turf

American  

[turf] / tɜrf /

noun

turfs, plural turves plural

1. a layer of matted earth formed by grass and plant roots.

2. peat, especially as material for fuel.

3. a block or piece of peat dug for fuel.

4. Slang.

   1. the neighborhood over which a street gang asserts its authority.

   2. a familiar area, as of residence or expertise.

      Denver is her turf. When you talk literature you're getting into my turf.

5. Chiefly British. a piece cut or torn from the surface of grassland; sod.

6. the turf,

   1. the track over which horse races are run.

   2. the practice or sport of racing horses.

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verb (used with object)

turfs, present (3rd person singular) turfed, past participle, past turfing present participle

1. to cover with turf or sod.

2. British Slang. to remove from a desirable office or position; expel; kick out.

   He was turfed from leadership of the group.

turf British  

/ tɜːf /

noun

1. the surface layer of fields and pastures, consisting of earth containing a dense growth of grasses with their roots; sod

2. a piece cut from this layer, used to form lawns, verges, etc

3. 1. a track, usually of grass or dirt, where horse races are run

   2. horse racing as a sport or industry

4. slang the territory or area of activity over which a person or group claims exclusive rights

5. an area of knowledge or influence

   he's on home turf when it comes to music

6. another term for peat 1

7. informal to be an unavoidable part of a particular situation or process

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verb

1. (tr) to cover with pieces of turf

Usage

What does turf mean? Turf is the top layer of a grassy area consisting of a kind of mat of grass and its roots. It’s the layer you could cut out and pull up in one piece. Such pieces are in fact pulled up and used to form lawns. This is also called turf. A close synonym is sod. Artificial turf is a surface that’s supposed to resemble a grassy surface, such as is sometimes used on sports fields. A name for one kind of this is Astroturf. Turf is also a term for the area that a gang claims as its exclusive territory. This sense of turf can also be used more casually to refer to a physical or figurative area that one claims as one’s own, such as an area of expertise, as in Advertising is my turf, so please stick to accounting. This use of the word turf is used in the phrases turf war and home turf. Example: My cat claimed my dog’s bed as her turf, and the dog’s not happy about it.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• returf
  verb (used with object)
• turfless
  adjective
• turflike
  adjective
• unturfed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• turves
  plural
• turfs
  plural

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has turfed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have turfed
  perfect
• am turfing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been turfing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are turfing
  progressive
• turfs
  singular 3rd person
• is turfing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been turfing
  perfect progressive
• turfing
  participle

Past

• had turfed
  perfect
• was turfing
  progressive singular
• had been turfing
  perfect progressive
• were turfing
  progressive plural
• turfed
  participle
• turfed
  simple

Future

• will turf
  simple
• will have turfed
  perfect
• will have been turfing
  perfect progressive
• will be turfing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of turf

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English, cognate with Dutch turf, German Torf (from Low German ), Old Norse torf, akin to Sanskrit darbha “tuft of grass”; see turbary

Explanation

When you're walking on the perfect green grass of a golf course, you might remark on the gorgeous turf. Turf is the top layer of ground, especially when it's planted with grass. From its original meaning, referring to the top layer of soil in which plants are rooted, turf has expanded to include a range of senses. While you might carefully maintain your beautiful backyard turf, your dog might think of it as his turf, barking to defend it from intruders. This sense of turf means "range of influence," or territory. Both meanings of the word come from a Germanic root that originated in a Sanskrit word, darbha, "blade of grass."

Example Sentences

Whatever the cause, the turf war churned up inside information about Pulte and his grandson.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

In some parks, even the turf is getting a makeover.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

It involves pumping "200 degrees of steam" seven inches into the turf.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

He says he wants to meet with you and he wants to do it on his turf in Texas, not yours.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

The trees thinned, and they burst out onto springy turf.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• earth
• grass
• ground
• sod
• soil
• terrain
• territory
• track