1. having a soft shell that has not yet hardened
Usage: zoology

1. a turtle with a leathery shell instead of a hard one
Usage: zoology
2. a crab that has recently molted and has a soft shell
Usage: zoology

Examples

• The softshell turtle buried itself in the muddy riverbank.
• Softshell crabs are considered a delicacy in many coastal restaurants.
• The aquarium featured several species of softshell turtles.
• We caught a softshell crab that had just molted.
• The softshell turtle’s flexible shell allows it to move quickly through water.
• Softshell crabs are harvested when their shells are still tender.
• The biologist studied the softshell turtle’s unique adaptation to aquatic life.