countershading

countershading
/kown"teuhr shay'ding/, n. Zool.
the development of dark colors on parts usually exposed to the sun and of light colors on parts usually shaded, esp. as serving for protection or concealment.
[1895-1900; COUNTER- + SHADING]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • countershading — noun Date: 1896 cryptic coloration of an animal with parts normally in shadow being light and parts normally illuminated being dark thereby reducing shadows and contours …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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  • countershading — n. [L. contra, against; A.S. sceadu, shade] In camouflaging, an animal being dark dorsally and pale ventrally and therefore appearing evenly colored and inconspicuous …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • countershading — noun Zoology protective coloration used by some animals in which parts normally in shadow are light and those exposed to the sky are dark. Derivatives countershaded adjective …   English new terms dictionary

  • countershading — coun·ter·shading …   English syllables

  • countershading — coun•ter•shad•ing [[t]ˈkaʊn tərˌʃeɪ dɪŋ[/t]] n. zool. (of an animal) coloration that is dark on parts of the body surface that are usu. exposed to the sun and light on parts usu. in shade • Etymology: 1895–1900 …   From formal English to slang

  • countershading — /kaʊntəˈʃeɪdɪŋ/ (say kowntuh shayding) noun the presence (on an animal) of dark colours on parts usually exposed to the sun and of light colours on parts usually shaded, especially as serving for protection or concealment …  

  • countershading — |kau̇ntə(r)+ noun Etymology: counter + shading : coloration (as of an animal) with parts normally in shadow being light or parts normally illuminated being dark compare protective coloration …   Useful english dictionary

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