turtle

1 of 3

noun (1)

tur·​tle ˈtər-tᵊl How to pronounce turtle (audio)
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plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn

turtle

2 of 3

noun (2)

: turtleneck

turtle

3 of 3

noun (3)

archaic
: turtledove

Examples of turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The final destination before returning to Bridgetown, Barbados, is Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, home to colorful coral reefs, turtle nesting sites, and hiking trails up Mount Royal. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2024 The business’s mascot is the humble turtle, and serves as a reminder that anyone, no matter their pace or ability, can work hard and achieve their goals, Meng said. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024 Current city Farmington, CT Really want to be in With my family in a beach house in Maui, snorkeling with turtles. —Liza Lentini, SPIN, 10 May 2024 Ribbons affixed to balloons entangle turtles and manatees. —Cara Buckley, New York Times, 8 May 2024 The corporation said the development will be built at least a fifth of a mile away from the shoreline as well as move all commercial activity and parking off the beach to protect the turtles. —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024 Cicadas are an abundant source of food for other animals like turtles and birds. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2024 Come visit the geopark, see the turtles, and stay for a cup of coffee. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2024 For the North American river otter, fish, crayfish, frogs and turtles are on the menu, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute reports. —Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turtle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

modification of French tortue, from Late Latin (bestia) tartarucha, feminine of tartaruchus of Tartarus, from Greek tartarouchos, from Tartaros Tartarus; from Mithraic and early Christian association of the turtle with infernal forces

Noun (3)

Middle English turtil, turtle, going back to Old English turtle, turtla borrowed (with dissimilation, as also in Middle Dutch tortel "turtledove," Old High German turtul, turtila) from Latin turtur, of onomatopoeic origin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1612, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1952, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of turtle was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing turtle

Dictionary Entries Near turtle

Tursiops

turtle

turtleback

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Turtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turtle. Accessed 18 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

turtle

1 of 2 noun
tur·​tle ˈtərt-ᵊl How to pronounce turtle (audio)
archaic
: turtledove

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 How to pronounce turtle (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on turtle

Nglish: Translation of turtle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of turtle for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about turtle

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