Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for turtle

turtle

1

[ tur-tl ]

noun

, plural tur·tles, (especially collectively) tur·tle.
  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)

, tur·tled, tur·tling.
  1. to catch turtles, especially as a business.

turtle

2

[ tur-tl ]

noun

, Archaic.
  1. a turtledove.

turtle

1

/ ˈtɜːtəl /

noun

  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 swimming cheloniantestudinal
  2. 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
    turn turtle to capsize


verb

  1. intr to catch or hunt turtles

turtle

2

/ ˈtɜːtəl /

noun

  1. an archaic name for turtledove

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈturtler, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • turtler noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of turtle1

1625–35; alteration (influenced by turtle 2 ) of French tortue < Medieval Latin tortūca tortoise

Origin of turtle2

before 1000; Middle English, Old English < Latin turtur (imitative)

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of turtle1

C17: from French tortue tortoise (influenced by turtle ²)

Origin of turtle2

Old English turtla , from Latin turtur , of imitative origin; related to German Turteltaube

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. turn turtle,
    1. Nautical. to capsize or turn over completely in foundering.
    2. to overturn; upset:

      Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.

More idioms and phrases containing turtle

see turn turtle .

Discover More

Example Sentences

This Israel-Hamas war feels different, neither turtle nor scorpion even pretending anymore about seeking peace.

A non-Sioux nation in the state, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, also said no.

The commercial then shifts to a split screen of a cartoon turtle and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

In the meantime, Stovall has learned some political lessons in light of his turtle soup success.

He was filming other television spots in January and his campaign manager and the producer wanted to do the turtle soup spot.

To these we gave boiled rice, and with it turtle and manatee boiled.

She careened so badly that the girls shrieked and Malcolm himself thought she would turn turtle.

For our use, besides bread-fruit and fish, there was a turtle weighing perhaps more than twenty pounds.

I shall give 'em real turtle from Birch's, and as for fizz, they shall swim in it if they like.

Thomas Simpson, companion of Mr. Dean in the discovery of the north-west passage, died by his own hand at Turtle river, aged 32.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Turshaturtleback