turtle

¹ American  

[tur-tl] / ˈtɜr tl /

noun

• turtles,
  plural
• turtle
  plural

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.

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verb (used without object)

turtled, turtling

1. to catch turtles, especially as a business.

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.

turtle ² American  

[tur-tl] / ˈtɜr tl /

noun

Archaic.

1. a turtledove.

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turtle ¹ British  

/ 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

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. to capsize

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verb

1. (intr) to catch or hunt turtles

turtle ² British  

/ ˈtɜːtəl /

noun

1. an archaic name for turtledove

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turtle More Idioms  

1. see turn turtle.

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Usage

What’s the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? The words turtle and tortoise are sometimes used interchangeably, and turtle is the more general term. The word tortoise is sometimes used to distinguish a turtle as being a terrestrial (mostly land-dwelling) one, as opposed to an aquatic turtle (one that spends most of its time in water). However, this doesn’t mean that a turtle is necessarily aquatic simply because it’s called a turtle. For example, the box turtle is primarily terrestrial (it can also be called the box tortoise). Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles that belong to the order Testudines. Whether something is called a turtle or a tortoise often depends on its habitat and physical features. Some aquatic turtles, like snapping turtles, have webbed feet, while others, like sea turtles, have flippers. In contrast, turtles that are called tortoises typically have stubby, round feet, and their shells are often more domed. Here are a few quick questions to help you determine whether it’s more appropriate to call something a turtle or a tortoise. Q: Does it spend a lot of time in the water and have webbed feet or flippers?A: It’s probably called a turtle. Q: Does it live mostly on land and have a domed shell and round feet?A: There’s a good chance it’s called a tortoise, but this isn’t always the case. Q: Is it a teenaged, mutant ninja?A: It’s a turtle. Still stumped? Ask a herpetologist. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between turtles and tortoises.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• turtler
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• turtle
  plural
• turtles
  plural

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Etymology

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)

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Explanation

A turtle is a reptile with a hard shell that works as a protective shield. Although turtles breathe air, many of them spend much of their lives underwater — so you should make sure your pet turtle has a nice place to swim. The oldest turtles we know of lived 220 million years ago, making them much older than other reptiles like snakes and crocodiles. They live near water, many of them laying their eggs in sand or soil near the shore. Turtles and tortoises are officially the same animal, although we often refer to land-dwelling turtles as tortoises. While turtles may be known for their short legs and slow pace, they're also famous for being long-lived — some live well over 100 years.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turtle turtles turtled turtling

Last year, the green sea turtle became the first marine turtle to have its protection status downgraded from "endangered" to "least concern", after 50 years of conservation work in about 80 countries.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

As a large turtle lumbered across the island's sands on Wednesday, tourism operator Famau said his sector supports 90 percent of the island.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

The nests, which appeared Sept. 16 in Seal Beach and Sept. 19 in Huntington Beach, are the first known naturally-occurring sea turtle nests on the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Loggerhead turtles, external are the most common turtle in the Mediterranean and typically nest on beaches from Greece and Turkey to Israel and Libya.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

The turtle ignored him and settled down on the sand, where she lay sunning herself, occasionally moving her head as if to catch the best rays.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

Loggerhead turtles, external are the most common turtle in the Mediterranean and typically nest on beaches from Greece and Turkey to Israel and Libya.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

The observed animals are olive ridley sea turtles, a small sea turtle species that can grow up to 100 pounds and 3 feet in length.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Paleontologists have not found fossils of lizards, turtles, crocodiles, or other reptiles from Cretaceous Alaska, Chiarenza said.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

These days, hikers flock to the island’s mangrove forests and divers to its coral reefs, teeming with turtles and pufferfish.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

And one day after a storm, we rescued a batch of hatchling turtles and took them out to sea.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

I skate low, torso over toes, head turtled forward.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 4, 2019

She spends most of her time turtled in bed.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2015

They turtled at first, then they quit, wallowing in self-pity and requiring emergency spine implants.

From Chicago Tribune ● May 8, 2012

I yanked the cuffs of my sweatshirt down as far as they would go, picked up my board and turtled into the collar of my jacket as the lady hurried across the street.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Art was with the same Mr. Dunwoody whose car Pluto Noak’d turtled over last year.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

At the last second, both instead ducked for cover, turtling with their arms around their heads.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2025

Far Tortuga is a treatise on turtling, an account of the dying days of sailing ships on unspoiled waters, and a history of a locale that winter tourists tripping through the Caribbean rarely see.

From Time Magazine Archive

The canoes engaged in turtling, besides going about in the day, are often sent out on calm moonlight nights.

From Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Commanded By the Late Captain Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. Etc. During the Years 1846-1850. Including Discoveries and Surveys in New Guinea, the Louisiade Archipelago, Etc. to Which Is Added the Account of Mr. E.B. Kennedy's Expedition for the Exploration of the Cape York Peninsula. By John Macgillivray, F.R.G.S. Naturalist to the Expedition. — Volume 2 by John MacGillivray

In the afternoon, the boats and turtling party, at the S.E. part of the island, all returned on board, except a seaman belonging to the Discovery, who had been missing two days.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 16 by Robert Kerr

I now went in search of the turtling party, who had taken great pains, but without success.

From A Narrative Of The Mutiny, On Board His Majesty's Ship Bounty; And The Subsequent Voyage Of Part Of The Crew, In The Ship's Boat by William Bligh

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Related Words

• tortoise

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