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turtle

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The definition of a turtle is an aquatic reptile and is a member of the order Testudines or Chelonia.

(noun)

An example of a turtle is a sea turtle.

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See turtle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. turtles or turtle

any of a large and widely distributed order (Testudines) of terrestrial or aquatic reptiles having a toothless beak and a soft body encased in a tough shell into which, in most species, the head, tail, and four legs may be withdrawn: although aquatic, esp. marine, species are usually called turtle and land species are usually called tortoise, the terms are properly interchangeable for all species
the flesh of some turtles, used as food
turtleneck
Archaic turtledove

Origin: altered, prob. infl. by turtle(dove) < Fr tortue, tortoise < VL *tartaruca: see tortoise

intransitive verb turtled, turtling

to hunt for turtles

See turtle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various aquatic or terrestrial reptiles of the order Testudines (or Chelonia), having horny toothless jaws and a bony or leathery shell into which the head, limbs, and tail can be withdrawn in most species.
Chiefly British A sea turtle.

intransitive verb tur·tled, tur·tling, tur·tles

To hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation.
Nautical To capsize.

Origin:

Origin: Perhaps from French tortue

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Medieval Latin *tortūca

Origin: , perhaps alteration (influenced by Latin tortus, twisted, from the shape of its legs)

Origin: of Vulgar Latin *tartarūca

Origin: , feminine of *tartarūcus, of Tartarus

Origin: , from Late Latin tartarūchus

Origin: , from Late Greek tartaroukhos, occupying Tartarus

Origin: : Tartaros, Tartarus

Origin: + ekhein, to hold; see eunuch

.

Related Forms:

turˈtler noun

noun
Archaic

A turtledove.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English

Origin: , from Latin turtur

Origin: , probably of imitative origin

.

noun

A turtleneck.

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