Definition of turtle - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
animalUS hard-shelled reptile living on land and waterUS
- The turtle slowly crawled towards the water..
2.
sea animalmarine reptile with flipper-like limbs
- A turtle swam gracefully in the ocean.
3.
militaryTECH. ancient Roman military formation using shieldsTECH.
- The soldiers formed a turtle to protect themselves.
Verb
1.
movementUS flip over onto the back or topUS
- The small boat began to turtle in the rough sea.
2.
move slowlymove along very slowly, often with little energy
- He turtled across the finish line, exhausted.
3.
animal huntingRare hunt turtles, especially in the waterRare
- They went out to turtle at dawn.
4.
defensive strategyTECH. build a large defense force in gamesTECH.
- In the game, he decided to turtle and wait for an attack.
Images of turtle
hard-shelled reptile living on land and water 
marine reptile with flipper-like limbs 
ancient Roman military formation using shields
Expressions with turtle
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
withdraw into a defensive position
When criticized, he tends to turtle up and avoid confrontation.
very slow speed or rate of progress
The project is moving at a turtle pace.
extremely slow in movement or action
He is slow as a turtle when it comes to getting ready.
large turtle with flipper-like limbs living in the ocean
A sea turtle swims gracefully through the coral reef.
terrestrial North American turtle with a closable shell
We spotted a box turtle crossing the forest path.
largest sea turtle with a soft, flexible shell
The leathery turtle is the largest sea turtle in the world.
turtle that lives in ponds and slow-moving waters
The pond turtle basked on a log in the sun.
type of large turtle known for its strong bite
The snapping turtle can be quite aggressive when threatened.
large freshwater turtle with a strong bite
The common snapping turtle can bite very hard.
large-headed sea turtle with a reddish-brown shell
The loggerhead sea turtle nests on sandy beaches.
hand gesture showing something is awkward or embarrassing
He made the awkward turtle after the silence.
overturn accidentally
The car turned turtle on the icy road.
large freshwater turtle with three ridges and a strong bite
The alligator snapping turtle can bite very hard.
black bean variety often used in Latin American food
Turtle bean is popular in many Latin American recipes.
North American turtle with a rough shell
The wood turtle is often found near streams.
large turtle with flippers living in warm seas
The marine turtle glided gracefully through the water.
bird in the genus Streptopelia
The turtle dove is known for its gentle cooing.
large sea turtle species Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is found in tropical oceans.
large sea turtle with greenish flesh
The green turtle is often seen near coral reefs.
small aquatic turtle of the Americas
The mud turtle is often found in shallow waters.
small North American turtle with a musky smell
The musk turtle released a strong odor when picked up.
freshwater turtle with colorful shell markings
The painted turtle basked on the log.
freshwater turtle with a soft, flexible shell
A soft-shelled turtle swam quickly in the pond.
bird of the species Streptopelia turtur
The European turtle dove is known for its gentle cooing.
Origin of turtle
Spanish, tortuga (tortoise)
Terms with turtle included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
animals
freshwater turtle often kept as a pet
marine
large, hard-shelled sea turtle
animals
large turtle with a powerful bite
reptiles
turtle with red markings around its ears
animals
red-bellied terrapin species of turtle
imitation goods
synthetic material resembling hawksbill turtle shell
animal source
horny shell of hawksbill turtle used for ornaments
material
made from hawksbill turtle shell
delicacy
glutinous edible part of a turtle's lower shell
appearance
resembling a turtle or tortoise
reptile
freshwater turtle found in the eastern US
wildlife
turtle species native to US coastal marshes
zoology
turtle species native to Europe and Asia
animal
type of sea turtle with a hooked beak
turtle
tropical sea turtle with a hard shell and hawk-like beak
marine
large sea turtle with a leathery back
animal
South American freshwater turtle with large triangular flattened head
animal
large turtle with algae growing on its shell
marine
species of sea turtle known for its olive-colored shell
historical writing
ancient Chinese writing found on animal bones or turtle shells
zoology
relating to the plastron of a turtle
turtle anatomy
part of a turtle's shell covering the belly
animals
turtle with red markings on its shell
animals
common musk turtle with a strong odor
Examples of turtle in a sentence
The turtle hid inside its shell. The turtle basked on the sunny beach. Children watched the turtle at the aquarium. The legionnaires quickly assembled into a turtle. During the siege, they advanced in a turtle formation. The kayak started to turtle in the strong current.
Watch out, the raft might turtle if overloaded. The old man turtled down the street with his cane. She turtled through her homework, taking hours to finish. Local fishermen turtle during the nesting season. They learned to turtle from their ancestors. Players often turtle to gain a strategic advantage. He chose to turtle, focusing on defense rather than offense.
View all translations of turtle
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:tortue, se retourner, ...
- German:Schildkröte, kentern, ...
- Italian:tartaruga, capovolgersi, ...
- Spanish:tortuga, volcarse, ...
- Portuguese:tartaruga, virar-se, ...
- Chinese:龟, 翻转, ...
- Japanese:カメ, 転覆する, ...
- Arabic:سُلْحَفاة, اِنْقَلَبَ, ...
- Hebrew:צָב, לְהִתְהַפֵּךְ, ...
- Russian:черепаха, переворачиваться, ...
- Ukrainian:черепаха, перевертатися, ...
- Hindi:कछुआ, पलटना, ...
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