turf

[ turf ]

/ tɜrf /

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noun, plural turfs, (especially British) turves

[turvz]. /tɜrvz/.

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

peat, especially as material for fuel.

a block or piece of peat dug for fuel.

Slang.

the neighborhood over which a street gang asserts its authority.
a familiar area, as of residence or expertise: Denver is her turf. When you talk literature you're getting into my turf.

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

the turf,

the track over which horse races are run.
the practice or sport of racing horses.

verb (used with object)

to cover with turf or sod.

British Slang. to remove from a desirable office or position; expel; kick out: He was turfed from leadership of the group.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM turf

turfless, adjectiveturflike, adjectivere·turf, verb (used with object)un·turfed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use turf in a sentence

Because I didn’t want to move in on another gang’s turf, I had Andy show me a few of his favorite areas.
Mushroom Hunting at the End of the World|Danny Palumbo|November 12, 2020|Eater
McIlroy suggested that, in normal times, missing to the right of the green at the par-5 second is a poor choice because the gallery tramps down the grass and makes for a wide swath of swampy turf between there and the third tee.
Masters golfers won’t see the blooms, but they will really miss hearing the roars|Barry Svrluga|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Replays showed the ball squirting away from Parham as he hit the turf while being closely defended by Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson.
Steelers stay unbeaten, Chargers drop another heartbreaker in NFL Week 9|Cindy Boren, Mark Maske, Des Bieler|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
After being knocked to the ground by Washington running back Antonio Gibson, Peppers whipped around his right leg and made contact with Allen’s left leg, which twisted awkwardly as he fell to the turf.
Four takeaways from Washington’s 23-20 loss to the Giants|Scott Allen|November 8, 2020|Washington Post

Here I am, then, back on familiar turf, a restaurant I’ve followed as long as it’s been pouring champagne and serving boudin blanc.
A reopened Marcel’s reminds me that fine dining, especially now, is about more than food|Tom Sietsema|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
It should then be lined out to the required size of the bricks, and be cut with a sharp spade or turfing iron.
Mushrooms: how to grow them|William Falconer
It undermines the richest meadows, and so loosens the turf that it will roll up as if cut with a turfing-spade.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. I (of 4)|William Kirby
The cost of these improvements amounted to several thousands of pounds—in levelling, planting, turfing, gravelling.
Kensington Palace, the birthplace of the Queen|Ernest Law
To cut it expeditiously, be provided with a turfing-iron; but if that cannot be conveniently had, a spade may do very well.
The American Flower Garden Directory|Thomas Hibbert

British Dictionary definitions for turf

turf

/ (tɜːf) /

noun plural turfs or turves (tɜːvz)

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

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

the turf

a track, usually of grass or dirt, where horse races are run
horse racing as a sport or industry

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

an area of knowledge or influencehe's on home turf when it comes to music

another term for peat 1

go with the turf informal to be an unavoidable part of a particular situation or process

verb

(tr) to cover with pieces of turf

Word Origin for turf

Old English; related to Old Norse torfa, Old High German zurba, Sanskrit darbha tuft of grass

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

turf

Origin of turf

OTHER WORDS FROM turf

Words related to turf

How to use turf in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for turf

Word Origin for turf