alligator snapping turtle

noun

a large American snapping turtle, Macroclemys temmincki, having three prominent ridges on its shell and a wormlike process on the floor of the mouth used to attract prey.

QUIZZES

QUIZ TIME: TEST YOUR MEMORY OF THE MAY 2020 WORDS OF THE DAY

Let the aeolian gusts transport you back to these popular Words of the Day from the month of May. How many do you remember?
Question 1 of 10
Which of the following words means “to travel or journey, especially to walk on foot”?
hightail
peregrinate
perpetrate
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also called alligator snapper.

Origin of alligator snapping turtle

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Words nearby alligator snapping turtle

alligator lizard, alligator pear, alligator pepper, alligator shear, alligator skin, alligator snapping turtle, alligator wrench, alligatorfish, allingham, allis's sign, allision
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020