turtle

[tur-tl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR turtle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural tur·tles, (especially collectively) tur·tle.

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.

(not used technically) an aquatic turtle as distinguished from a terrestrial one.Compare tortoise(def 1).

verb (used without object), tur·tled, tur·tling.

to catch turtles, especially as a business.

Idioms

turn turtle,

Nautical.to capsize or turn over completely in foundering.
to overturn; upset: Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.

Origin of turtle

1625–35; alteration (influenced by turtle²) of French tortue < Medieval Latin tortūca tortoise

Related formstur·tler, noun

turtle

[tur-tl]

noun Archaic.

a turtledove.

Origin of turtle

before 1000; Middle English, Old English < Latin turtur (imitative)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for turtle

tortoise, slowpoke, chelonian, snapper, terrapin, cooter, leatherback, loggerhead, testudinal

Examples from the Web for turtle

Contemporary Examples of turtle

A non-Sioux nation in the state, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, also said no.
The Native Americans Who Voted for ‘The Fighting Sioux’
Evan Weiner
June 26, 2014
In the meantime, Stovall has learned some political lessons in light of his turtle soup success.
Tea Party Candidate In Texas Makes Viral "Turtle Soup" Campaign Ad
Ben Jacobs
February 18, 2014
He was filming other television spots in January and his campaign manager and the producer wanted to do the turtle soup spot.
Tea Party Candidate In Texas Makes Viral "Turtle Soup" Campaign Ad
Ben Jacobs
February 18, 2014
So Rice decamped to Turtle Bay, where she bided her time until Jones retired at the NSC.
Why Obama Betrayed Susan Rice
Peter Beinart
December 13, 2012
David McGuire tests Pacific seafood for mercury with GotMercury.org, a part of the Turtle Bay Restoration Network.
Radioactive Tuna Won’t Kill You—but Should We Be Concerned About Mercury?
Daniel Stone
May 30, 2012

Historical Examples of turtle

Such, Delawares, is the belief of the children of the Turtle.
The Last of the Mohicans
James Fenimore Cooper
He gave them a turtle and said: “Put it in the water-barrel in the yard.”
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
He is a gopher, and different from the common kind of turtle.
St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. V, August, 1878, No 10.
Various
Is there any reader of Young People who can tell me how to tame a turtle?
Harper's Young People, June 15, 1880
Various
A turtle may bury its eggs in a sand bank and abandon them to their fate.
The Meaning of Evolution
Samuel Christian Schmucker

British Dictionary definitions for turtle

turtle

noun

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 swimmingRelated adjectives: chelonian, testudinal

US and Canadian any of the chelonian reptiles, including the tortoises and terrapins

nautical a zip bag made as part of a spinnaker for holding the sail so that it can be set rapidly

turn turtle to capsize

verb

(intr) to catch or hunt turtles

Derived Formsturtler, noun

Word Origin for turtle

C17: from French tortue tortoise (influenced by turtle ²)

turtle

noun

an archaic name for turtledove

Word Origin for turtle

Old English turtla, from Latin turtur, of imitative origin; related to German Turteltaube

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

Word Origin and History for turtle

n.1

reptile, c.1600, "marine tortoise," from French tortue "turtle, tortoise," of unknown origin. The English word is perhaps a sailors' mauling of the French one, influenced by the similar sounding turtle (n.2). Later extended to land tortoises; sea-turtle is attested from 1610s. Turtleneck "close-fitting collar" is recorded from 1895.

n.2

"turtledove," Old English turtle, dissimilation of Latin turtur "turtledove," a reduplicated form imitative of the bird's call. Graceful, harmonious and affectionate to its mate, hence a term of endearment in Middle English. Turtledove is attested from c.1300.

Idioms and Phrases with turtle

turtle

see turn turtle.