Turtle (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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.
verb (used without object), tur·tled, tur·tling.
  1. to catch turtles, especially as a business.
Idioms
  1. turn turtle,
    • to capsize or turn over completely in foundering.
    • to overturn; upset: Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.
noun Archaic.
  1. a turtledove.
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
  2. any of the chelonian reptiles, including the tortoises and terrapins
  3. a zip bag made as part of a spinnaker for holding the sail so that it can be set rapidly
  4. to capsize
verb
  1. to catch or hunt turtles
noun
  1. an archaic name for turtledove
Turtle (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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