turkey

[ tur-kee ]

/ ˈtɜr ki /

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See synonyms for turkey on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural tur·keys, (especially collectively) tur·key.

a large, gallinaceous bird of the family Meleagrididae, especially Meleagris gallopavo, of America, that typically has green, reddish-brown, and yellowish-brown plumage of a metallic luster and that is domesticated in most parts of the world.

the flesh of this bird, used as food.

the ocellated turkey.

Slang.

a person or thing of little appeal; dud; loser.
a naive, stupid, or inept person.
a poor and unsuccessful theatrical production; flop.

Bowling. three strikes in succession.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about turkey

talk turkey, Informal. to talk frankly; mean business.

Origin of turkey

First recorded in 1545–55; short for Turkey cock and Turkey hen “cock of Turkey” and “hen of Turkey,” first applied to guinea fowl, and later confused with the American bird; see also guinea fowl

Words nearby turkey

turiya, Turk, Turkana, Turkestan, Turkestani, turkey, turkey brown, turkey buzzard, Turkey carpet, turkey cock, turkey nest

Other definitions for turkey (2 of 2)

Turkey

or Tür·kiye

[ tur-kee; Turkish tur-kee-ye ]

/ ˈtɜr ki; Turkish ˈtɜr ki yɛ /

noun

a republic in western Asia and southeastern Europe. 296,184 sq. mi. (767,120 sq. km): 286,928 sq. mi. (743,145 sq. km) in Asia; 9,257 sq. mi. (23,975 sq. km) in Europe. Capital: Ankara.

Compare Ottoman Empire.

usage note for Turkey

The Republic of Türkiye changed its official name from the Republic of Turkey on May 26, 2022, in a request submitted to the secretary-general of the United Nations by the country's minister of foreign affairs.

OTHER WORDS FROM Turkey

an·ti-Tur·key, an·ti-Tür·kiye, adjectivepro-Tur·key, pro-Tür·kiye, adjective

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

How to use turkey in a sentence

That month, Turkey’s finance minister Berat Albayrak—Erdogan’s son-in-law—resigned, and Erdogan sacked the head of the central bank.
The 'Badass Chief of Staff' of Turkey's Opposition Faces Years in Jail After Challenging Erdogan's Power. She's Not Backing Down|Joseph Hincks / Istanbul|February 24, 2021|Time
Better to use the cell phone network from the Turkish company Turkcell, even if it meant Turkey could hear every move they made.
The Women Who Fought to Defend Their Homes Against ISIS|Gayle Tzemach Lemmon|February 22, 2021|Time
Though Turkey tries to tweet-shame America on the Capitol attack, its independent journalists have faced detentions and criminal investigations for reporting on the government’s management of the pandemic.
Save the Sarcasm for Other Democracies. America Is Fine|Debasish Roy Chowdhury|January 11, 2021|Time
Dream center Elizabeth Williams, playing in Turkey, took part in a virtual Warnock for Georgia event last month.
WNBA players helped oust Kelly Loeffler from the Senate. Will she last in the league?|Candace Buckner|January 7, 2021|Washington Post

In Turkey, the government’s health ministry said that an interim analysis of late-stage trials showed that the vaccine was 91% effective.
Data delays aren’t slowing the global rollout of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine|Grady McGregor|January 4, 2021|Fortune
Meanwhile two kids were taken from their mother when she flew back to the UK from Turkey.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis|Nico Hines|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After two nights in detention, he was scheduled to be deported back to Turkey on Monday.
Pope-Shooter Ali Agca’s Very Weird Vatican Visit|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Turkey, crime groups in border areas are exploiting the labor of Syrian male refugees who cannot find legitimate employment.
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism|Louise I. Shelley|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She is also head of the Sabancı Foundation, which conducts female-empowerment programs for women in rural Turkey.
The Women Battling an Islamist Strongman|Christina Asquith|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Turkey has had more than a decade of economic boom, and is now the sixth-most-visited tourist destination in the world.
The Women Battling an Islamist Strongman|Christina Asquith|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Elderly matrons—and in Turkey every lady is an elderly matron in her fortieth year—are passionately devoted to this enjoyment.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Edmund Chishull, an English traveler, died; author of a book of travels in Turkey.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
We have only to keep our grip firm and fast; Turkey will die of exhaustion trying to do what she can't do; drive us into the sea!
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Turkey tobacco ranges in color from brown to light yellow, the latter being the most in demand.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
In the meantime he was completely infatuated, and trotted about after Sarah like an old turkey cock.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland

British Dictionary definitions for turkey (1 of 2)

turkey

/ (ˈtɜːkɪ) /

noun plural -keys or -key

a large gallinaceous bird, Meleagris gallopavo, of North America, having a bare wattled head and neck and a brownish iridescent plumage. The male is brighter and has a fan-shaped tail. A domestic variety is widely bred for its flesh

the flesh of the turkey used as food

a similar and related bird, Agriocharis ocellata (ocellated turkey), of Central and N South America

any of various Australian birds considered to resemble the turkey, such as the bush turkey

slang, mainly US and Canadian

a dramatic production that fails; flop
a thing or person that fails; dud

slang, mainly US and Canadian a stupid, incompetent, or unappealing person

slang (in tenpin bowling) three strikes in a row

See cold turkey

talk turkey informal, mainly US and Canadian to discuss frankly and practically

Word Origin for turkey

C16: shortened from Turkey cock (hen), used at first to designate the African guinea fowl (apparently because the bird was brought through Turkish territory), later applied by mistake to the American bird

British Dictionary definitions for turkey (2 of 2)

Turkey

/ (ˈtɜːkɪ) /

noun

a republic in W Asia and SE Europe, between the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean: the centre of the Ottoman Empire; became a republic in 1923. The major Asian part, consisting mainly of an arid plateau, is separated from European Turkey by the Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, and Dardanelles. Official languages: Turkish; Kurdish and Arabic minority languages. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: lira. Capital: Ankara. Pop: 80 694 485 (2013 est). Area: 780 576 sq km (301 380 sq miles)

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

Cultural definitions for turkey

Turkey

Republic straddling southeastern Europe and the Middle East, bordered by the Black Sea to the north, Georgia and Armenia to the northeast, Iran to the east, Iraq and Syria to the southeast, the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea to the southwest, and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest. Ninety-seven percent of the country is in Asia. Ankara is its capital, but Istanbul is its largest city and former imperial capital.

notes for Turkey

The Ottoman Empire emerged in Anatolia (the western portion of Asian Turkey) during the thirteenth century and survived until 1918. At its height, during the sixteenth century, the empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to western Algeria and included all of southeastern Europe.

notes for Turkey

The declining Ottoman Empire allied with Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria in World War I and suffered disintegration and Greek occupation at the end of the war.

notes for Turkey

After the rise of a nationalist movement led by Kemal Ataturk, the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923.

notes for Turkey

In 1871, the archaeologist and scholar Heinrich Schliemann discovered the site of ancient Troy on the west coast of Asian Turkey.

notes for Turkey

The country's relations with Greece have been characterized by tension and conflict for centuries.

notes for Turkey

Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952.

notes for Turkey

Parts of the country were devastated by an earthquake in 2000.

notes for Turkey

Turkey has long resisted separatist demands from militant Kurds in the eastern part of the country.

Other Idioms and Phrases with turkey

turkey

see cold turkey; talk turkey.

turkey

Idioms about turkey

Origin of turkey

Words nearby turkey

Other definitions for turkey (2 of 2)

or Tür·kiye

usage note for Turkey

OTHER WORDS FROM Turkey

Words related to turkey

How to use turkey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for turkey (1 of 2)

Word Origin for turkey

British Dictionary definitions for turkey (2 of 2)

Cultural definitions for turkey

notes for Turkey

notes for Turkey

notes for Turkey

notes for Turkey

notes for Turkey

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notes for Turkey

Other Idioms and Phrases with turkey