turtles
Use Turtles in a sentencetur·tle
1
[tur-tl] noun, plural tur·tles ( especially collectively ) tur·tle, verb, tur·tled, tur·tling. 
tl noun
1.
any reptile of the order Testudines, comprising aquatic and terrestrial species having the trunk enclosed in a shell consisting of a dorsal carapace and a ventral plastron.
2.
(not used technically) an aquatic turtle as distinguished from a terrestrial one. Compare tortoise ( def 1 ).
verb (used without object)
Idioms 3.
to catch turtles, especially as a business.
4.
turn turtle,
a.
Nautical. to capsize or turn over completely in foundering.
b.
to overturn; upset: Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To Turtles
00:10
Turtles
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
turtle1 (ˈtɜːtəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | any of various aquatic chelonian reptiles, esp those of the marine family Chelonidae, having a flattened shell enclosing the body and flipper-like limbs adapted for swimmingRelated: chelonian, testudinal |
| 2. | (US), (Canadian) any of the chelonian reptiles, including the tortoises and terrapins |
| 3. | nautical a zip bag made as part of a spinnaker for holding the sail so that it can be set rapidly |
| 4. | turn turtle to capsize |
| —vb | |
| 5. | (intr) to catch or hunt turtles |
| Related: chelonian, testudinal | |
| [C17: from French tortue | |
| 'turtler1 | |
| —n | |
| turtle2 (ˈtɜːtəl) | |
| —n | |
| an archaic name for turtledove | |
| [Old English turtla, from Latin turtur, of imitative origin; related to German Turteltaube] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
turtle
reptile, 1609, "marine tortoise," from Fr. tortue "turtle, tortoise," of unknown origin. The Eng. word is perhaps a sailors' mauling of the French one, infl. by the similar sounding turtle (2). Later extended to land tortoises. Turtleneck "close-fitting collar" is recorded from 1895.
turtle
"turtledove," O.E. turtle, dissimilation of L. turtur "turtledove," a reduplicated form imitative of the bird's call. Graceful, harmonious and affectionate to its mate, hence a term of endearment in M.E. Turtledove is attested from c.1300.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences from the web
Splinter of teenage mutant ninja turtles fame is a mutated rat.
Climate change will also affect the population and available habitat of sea turtles.
He named them las tortugas after the numerous sea turtles there.
For example, some species of sea turtles are homeothermic some of the time.
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