tortoise

American  

[tawr-tuhs] / ˈtɔr təs /

noun

1. a turtle, especially a terrestrial turtle.

2. a very slow person or thing.

3. testudo.

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tortoise British  

/ ˈtɔːtəs /

noun

1. any herbivorous terrestrial chelonian reptile of the family Testudinidae, of most warm regions, having a heavy dome-shaped shell and clawed limbs

2. another name for terrapin

3. a slow-moving person

4. another word for testudo See also giant tortoise

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Usage

What’s the difference between a tortoise and a turtle? The words tortoise and turtle 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 tortoise or a turtle 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 tortoise or a turtle.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 tortoises and turtles.

Etymology

Origin of tortoise

1350–1400; variant of earlier (15th-century) tortuse, tortose, tortuce, Middle English tortuca < Medieval Latin tortūca, for Late Latin tartarūcha (feminine adj.) of Tartarus (< Greek tartaroûcha ), the tortoise being regarded as an infernal animal; Medieval Latin form influenced by Latin tortus crooked, twisted ( tort )

Example Sentences

The nonprofit cared for more than 3,200 fire-affected pets — including a 200-pound tortoise named Huckleberry — and is still supporting a handful.

From Los Angeles Times

Alfie is a pet tortoise who lives on Mrs. Silver’s balcony.

From The Wall Street Journal

Footage released by Ecuador's environment ministry shows park rangers releasing giant tortoises.

From Barron's

Giant tortoises are roaming the Galápagos island of Floreana for the first time in more than 180 years, in what conservationists have called a "hugely significant milestone".

From BBC

More than 150 giant tortoises have been reintroduced to Floreana Island in Ecuador's famed Galapagos archipelago where they disappeared more than a century ago, the environment ministry said Friday.

From Barron's