turtle

¹

[ tur-tl ]

noun

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

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

verb (used without object)

, tur·tled, tur·tling.

1. to catch turtles, especially as a business.

turtle

²

[ tur-tl ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. a turtledove.

turtle

¹

/ ˈtɜːtəl /

noun

1. 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 swimming cheloniantestudinal
2. any of the chelonian reptiles, including the tortoises and terrapins
3. nautical a zip bag made as part of a spinnaker for holding the sail so that it can be set rapidly
4. turn turtle
   to capsize

verb

1. intr to catch or hunt turtles

turtle

²

/ ˈtɜːtəl /

noun

1. an archaic name for turtledove

Derived Forms

• ˈturtler, noun

Other Words From

• turtler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of turtle¹

1625–35; alteration (influenced by turtle ² ) of French tortue < Medieval Latin tortūca tortoise

Origin of turtle²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of turtle¹

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

Origin of turtle²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. turn turtle,
   1. Nautical. to capsize or turn over completely in foundering.
   2. to overturn; upset:

      Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.

More idioms and phrases containing turtle

see turn turtle .

Example Sentences

He promptly turned the four Ninja brothers into skeleton turtles, ornately decorated with complex green stripes and color-coordinated marigolds.

From Los Angeles Times

The open ocean is home to whales, turtles and jellyfish.

From Los Angeles Times

"There's so many green sea turtles in that area, so many sting rays," he said.

From BBC

From elephants in tropical forests to hawksbill turtles off the Great Barrier Reef, populations are plummeting, according to a stocktake of the world's wildlife.

From BBC

But João and his fellow villagers must then carry it on their backs to their community, burning their feet on the cracked dry riverbed and occasionally passing dead river life like turtles.

From BBC

Related Words

• tortoise

Turtle Vs. Tortoise

What’s the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?

The words turtle and tortoise 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 turtle or a tortoise 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 turtle or a tortoise.

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 turtles and tortoises.

Quiz yourself on turtle vs. tortoise!

Should turtle or tortoise be used in the following sentence?

The huge, land-dwelling _____ of the Galápagos Islands is known as being one of the longest living animals in the world.