turtle

/ˈtʌrdl/

/ˈtʌtəl/

Other forms: turtles; turtling; turtled

A turtle is a reptile with a hard shell that works as a protective shield. Although turtles breathe air, many of them spend much of their lives underwater — so you should make sure your pet turtle has a nice place to swim.

The oldest turtles we know of lived 220 million years ago, making them much older than other reptiles like snakes and crocodiles. They live near water, many of them laying their eggs in sand or soil near the shore. Turtles and tortoises are officially the same animal, although we often refer to land-dwelling turtles as tortoises. While turtles may be known for their short legs and slow pace, they're also famous for being long-lived — some live well over 100 years.

Definitions of turtle

1. noun

   any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs for swimming
   types:

   marine turtle, sea turtle

   any of various large turtles with limbs modified into flippers; widely distributed in warm seas

   snapping turtle

   large aggressive freshwater turtle with powerful jaws

   mud turtle

   bottom-dwelling freshwater turtle inhabiting muddy rivers of North America and Central America

   terrapin

   any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water

   Pseudemys rubriventris, red-bellied terrapin, red-bellied turtle, redbelly

   freshwater turtle of Chesapeake Bay tributaries having red markings on the lower shell

   Pseudemys scripta, slider, yellow-bellied terrapin

   freshwater turtle of United States and South America; frequently raised commercially; some young sold as pets

   Pseudemys concinna, cooter, river cooter

   large river turtle of the southern United States and northern Mexico

   box tortoise, box turtle

   chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly

   Chrysemys picta, painted terrapin, painted tortoise, painted turtle

   freshwater turtles having bright yellow and red markings; common in the eastern United States

   tortoise

   usually herbivorous land turtles having clawed elephant-like limbs; worldwide in arid area except Australia and Antarctica

   pancake turtle, soft-shelled turtle

   voracious aquatic turtle with a flat flexible shell covered by a leathery skin; can inflict painful bites

   Chelonia mydas, green turtle

   large tropical turtle with greenish flesh used for turtle soup

   Caretta caretta, loggerhead, loggerhead turtle

   very large carnivorous sea turtle; wide-ranging in warm open seas

   ridley

   a marine turtle

   Eretmochelys imbricata, hawkbill, hawksbill, hawksbill turtle, tortoiseshell turtle

   pugnacious tropical sea turtle with a hawk-like beak; source of food and the best tortoiseshell

   Dermochelys coriacea, leatherback, leatherback turtle, leathery turtle

   wide-ranging marine turtle with flexible leathery carapace; largest living turtle

   Chelydra serpentina, common snapping turtle, snapper

   large-headed turtle with powerful hooked jaws found in or near water; prone to bite

   Macroclemys temmincki, alligator snapper, alligator snapping turtle

   large species having three ridges on its back; found in southeastern United States

   musk turtle, stinkpot

   small freshwater turtle having a strong musky odor

   Malaclemys centrata, diamondback terrapin

   of marshes along Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of United States

   Terrapene ornata, Western box turtle

   primarily a prairie turtle of western United States and northern Mexico

   European tortoise, Testudo graeca

   small land tortoise of southern Europe

   giant tortoise

   very large tortoises of the Galapagos and Seychelles islands

   Gopherus polypemus, gopher, gopher tortoise, gopher turtle

   burrowing edible land tortoise of southeastern North America

   Gopherus agassizii, desert tortoise

   burrowing tortoise of the arid western United States and northern Mexico; may be reclassified as a member of genus Xerobates

   Texas tortoise

   close relative to the desert tortoise; may be reclassified as a member of genus Xerobates

   Trionyx spiniferus, spiny softshell

   river turtle of western United States with a warty shell; prefers quiet water

   Trionyx muticus, smooth softshell

   river turtle of Mississippi basin; prefers running water

   type of:

   chelonian, chelonian reptile

   a reptile of the order Chelonia
2. verb

   hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation
   type of:

   hunt, hunt down, run, track down

   pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
3. verb

   overturn accidentally
   synonyms: capsize, turn turtle

   type of:

   overturn, tip over, tump over, turn over

   turn from an upright or normal position
4. noun

   a sweater or jersey with a high close-fitting collar
   synonyms: polo-neck, turtleneck

   type of:

   T-shirt, jersey, tee shirt

   a close-fitting pullover shirt

   jumper, sweater

   a crocheted or knitted garment covering the upper part of the body