An example of a turtle is a sea turtle.
nounpl. -·tles or -·tle
- any of a large and widely distributed order (Testudines) of terrestrial or aquatic reptiles having a toothless beak and a soft body encased in a tough shell into which, in most species, the head, tail, and four legs may be withdrawn: although aquatic, esp. marine, species are usually called turtle and land species are usually called tortoise, the terms are properly interchangeable for all species
- the flesh of some turtles, used as food
- Archaic turtledove
Origin of turtlealtered, probably influenced, influence by turtle(dove) from French tortue, tortoise from Vulgar Latin an unverified form tartaruca: see tortoise
intransitive verb-·tled, -·tling
- Any of various aquatic or terrestrial egg-laying reptiles of the order Testudines (or Chelonia), having horny toothless jaws and a bony or leathery shell into which the head, limbs, and tail can be withdrawn in most species.
- Any of various members of this order that live in fresh or brackish water, in contrast to the terrestrial tortoises.
- Chiefly British A sea turtle.
- The flesh of certain turtles, used for food.
intransitive verbtur·tled, tur·tling, tur·tles
- To hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation.
- Nautical To capsize.
Origin of turtleAlteration (influenced by turtle 2) of Middle English tortu from Old French tortue ultimately (probably with influence from Old French tortu crooked ) ( and tordu twisted, from the shape of its legs ) from Vulgar Latin tartarūca feminine of *tartarūcus of Tartarus (the turtle being a symbol of the forces of darkness in early Christian iconography) from Late Latin tartarūchus from Late Greek tartaroukhos occupying Tartarus Tartaros Tartarus ekhein to hold ; see eunuch .
Origin of turtleMiddle English from Old English from Latin turtur probably of imitative origin
- Any land or marine reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body.
- (Australia, UK) A sea turtle.
- (military) An Ancient Roman attack method, where the shields held by the soldiers hide them, not only left, right, front and back, but also from above.
- (computing) A type of robot having a domed case (so resembling the reptile), used in education, especially for making line drawings by means of a computer program.
- (computing) An on-screen cursor that serves the same function as a turtle for drawing.
- (printing, historical) The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.
(third-person singular simple present turtles, present participle turtling, simple past and past participle turtled)
- (now rare, archaic) A turtle dove.