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turf Definition

turf (tʉrf)

noun pl. turfs or Archaicturvestʉrvz

    1. a surface layer of earth containing grass plants with their matted roots; sod; sward
    2. Chiefly Brit. a piece of this layer
  1. peat, or a piece of it for use as fuel
  2. a track for horse racing; also, the sport of horse racing: usually with the
  3. Slang
    1. a neighborhood area regarded by a street gang as its own territory to be defended against other gangs
    2. one's own territory or domain

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to ON torf < IE *dorbhos, sod, tuft of grass < base *derbh-, to twist together

transitive verb

to cover with turf

turf Related Forms
turfy adjective
turf Idioms

turf out

Brit., Informal to throw out; remove, discard, dismiss, etc.

turf Synonyms

turf

n.

earth, peat, lawn; see grass 1, sod.

turf Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • mow: Tests are carried out in a number of areas including close mown fine turf.
  • lay: Laying the turf Start by laying the first turf down the longest straight edge.
  • tread: He had chosen the candidate, trod the turf, pressed the flesh and personalized events wherever possible.
  • dig: These are: A spade, used for cutting pits, and digging turf that marked part of the common boundary.

Adjective modifier

  • hallowed: NO GOLF course on earth compares to the hallowed turf of St Andrews.
  • springy: There, he found a plump mallard drake lying on the springy turf.
  • artificial: Artificial turf will tend to give painful friction burns in equivalent situations.
  • frozen: Ice and frozen turf are not required for upward progress.
  • synthetic: These systems can also be applied to synthetic turf, which is a major product for European carpet mills.

Modifies a noun

  • Moor: Turf Moor places the club in the heart of the community.
  • rampart: This was defended by a turf rampart on a stone footing which enclosed an area of approximately 2.8 hectares.
  • pitch: There are only two turf pitches, the rest consisting of carpet rolled over a cement strip.
  • maze: The furthest end of the garden is terminated with a blue brick and turf maze.
  • labyrinth: British turf labyrinths A update on the eight surviving ancient turf ' mazes ' by Marilyn Clark.
  • cutter: At Beaghmore, in County Tyrone, turf cutters have revealed a complex of seven stone circles and at least nine stone alignments.

Noun used with modifier

  • astro: Next to the grassed area is the all weather floodlit astro turf pitch.
  • medallion: A homeowners guide to turf and lawn seed Medallion turf and seed.
  • downland: The early flowers starting to show on the short downland turf include Whitlow Grass and Hairy Violet.
  • wildflower: They are ideal for use with our wildflower meadow turf - please e-mail us with your requirements or for further details.
  • amenity: Q Lawns are one of the UK's biggest producers of amenity turf.
turf Quotes

The blue ribbon of the turf.

—Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

Give me the clear blue sky over my head, and the green turf beneath my feet, a winding road before me, and a three hours'march to dinneröand then to thinking! It is hard if I cannot start some game on these lone heaths.

—Hazlitt,William

Oh, to have a little house! To own the hearth and stool and all! The heaped-up sods upon the fire, The pile of turf against the wall! To have a clock with weights and chains And pendulum swinging up and down, A dresser filled with shining delph, Speckled and white and blue and brown!

—Colum, Padraic

I dreamed that, as I wandered by the way, Bare Winter suddenly was changed to Spring, And gentle odours led my steps astray, Mixed with a sound of water's murmuring Along a shelving bankof turf, which lay Under a copse, and hardly dared to fling Its green arms round the bosom of the stream, But kissed it and then fled, as thou mightst in dream.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

Ye valleys low where the mild whispers use, Of shades and wanton winds, and gushing brooks, On whose fresh lap the swart star sparely looks, Throw hither all your quaint enameled eyes, That on the green turf such the honeyed showers, And purple all the ground with vernal flowers.

—Milton,John

Browse dictionary entries near turf

  1. Turenne
  2. tureen
  3. turd
  4. Turcoman
  5. Turco-
  6. turbulent flow
  7. turbulent
  8. turbulence
  9. turbot
  10. turbosupercharger
  1. turfman
  2. Turgenev
  3. turgescent
  4. turgid
  5. turgor
  6. Turgot
  7. Turin
  8. Turing
  9. Turing machine
  10. turista