plural turtles also turtle
often attributive
: any of an order (Testudines synonym Chelonia) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn
archaic
Examples of turtle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Price, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025
The turtles completed their 20-hour trip from Connecticut to Georgia Wednesday, April 9, according to Mystic Aquarium.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Apr. 2025
To free the turtle, the deer plays dead while the crow mimics pecking at his eye.
—John Nemec, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
The turtles are only the latest addition, Indiana Dunes Tourism President and CEO Christine Livingston said.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turtle
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Noun
This turtle has been sick for quite sometime, so that’s why there is so much on it.
—Mark Price, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025
The turtles completed their 20-hour trip from Connecticut to Georgia Wednesday, April 9, according to Mystic Aquarium.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Apr. 2025
To free the turtle, the deer plays dead while the crow mimics pecking at his eye.
—John Nemec, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
The turtles are only the latest addition, Indiana Dunes Tourism President and CEO Christine Livingston said.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turtle
Cite this Entry
“Turtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turtle. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
turtle
1 of 2 noun
tur·tle
ˈtərt-ᵊl 
archaic
turtle
2 of 2 noun
plural turtles also turtle
: any of an order of land, freshwater, and marine reptiles with a toothless horny beak and a bony shell which encloses the body and into which the head, legs, and tail usually may be withdrawn
Etymology
Noun
Old English turtla "turtledove," from Latin turtur (same meaning)
Noun
derived from French tortue "tortoise, turtle," from Latin tartaruchus "of Tartarus (part of Hades reserved for the wicked)," from Greek tartarouchos (same meaning)
Medical Definition
turtle
noun
tur·tle
ˈtərt-ᵊl
plural turtles also turtle
often attributive
: any of an order (Testudines) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn
called also chelonian
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