Turtle definition
Any of various members of this order that live in fresh or brackish water, in contrast to the terrestrial tortoises.
noun
Any of various aquatic or terrestrial egg-laying 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(or Chelonia), having horny toothless jaws and a bony or leathery shell into which the head, limbs, and tail can be withdrawn in most species.
noun
The flesh of certain turtles, used for food.
noun
(nautical) To capsize.
verb
The definition of a turtle is an aquatic reptile and is a member of the order Testudines or Chelonia.
An example of a turtle is a sea turtle.
noun
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A turtleneck.
noun
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beak and a soft body encased in a tough shell into which, in most species, the head, tail, and four legs may be withdrawn.
noun
The flesh of some turtles, used as food.
noun
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To hunt for turtles.
verb
Any land or marine reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body.
noun
(Australia, UK) A sea turtle.
noun
(military) An Ancient Roman attack method, where the shields held by the soldiers hide them, not only left, right, front and back, but also from above.
noun
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(video games) To build up a large defense force and strike only punctually, rather than going for an offensive strategy.
verb
(now rare, archaic) A turtle dove.
noun
To hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation.
verb
(chiefly british) A sea turtle.
noun
A turtledove.
noun
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turn turtle
- to turn upside down; capsize
idiom
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of turtle
- Alteration (influenced by turtle) of Middle English tortu from Old French tortue ultimately (probably with influence from Old French tortu crooked) (and tordu twisted, from the shape of its legs) from Vulgar Latin tartarūca feminine of *tartarūcus of Tartarus (the turtle being a symbol of the forces of darkness in early Christian iconography) from Late Latin tartarūchus from Late Greek tartaroukhos occupying Tartarus Tartaros Tartarus ekhein to hold eunuch
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English from Old English from Latin turtur probably of imitative origin
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary
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From Wiktionary