TURTLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does turtle mean? 

• TURTLE (noun)
  The noun TURTLE has 2 senses:

1. a sweater or jersey with a high close-fitting collar

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

  Familiarity information: TURTLE used as a noun is rare.

• TURTLE (verb)
  The verb TURTLE has 2 senses:

1. overturn accidentally

2. hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation

  Familiarity information: TURTLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TURTLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sweater or jersey with a high close-fitting collar

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

polo-neck; turtle; turtleneck

Hypernyms ("turtle" is a kind of...):

jersey; T-shirt; tee shirt (a close-fitting pullover shirt)

jumper; sweater (a crocheted or knitted garment covering the upper part of the body)

Meronyms (parts of "turtle"):

polo-neck collar; turtleneck collar (a high close-fitting turnover collar)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("turtle" is a kind of...):

chelonian; chelonian reptile (a reptile of the order Chelonia)

Meronyms (parts of "turtle"):

carapace; cuticle; shell; shield (hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles)

plastron ((zoology) the part of a turtle's shell forming its underside)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turtle"):

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)

cooter; Pseudemys concinna; 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)

• TURTLE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Overturn accidentally

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

capsize; turn turtle; turtle

Context example:

Don't rock the boat or it will capsize!

Hypernyms (to "turtle" is one way to...):

overturn; tip over; tump over; turn over (turn from an upright or normal position)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "turtle" is one way to...):

hunt; hunt down; run; track down (pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

turtler (someone whose occupation is hunting turtles)

 Context examples 

Turtles, snakes and iguanas can transmit Salmonella bacteria to their owners.

(Animal Diseases and Your Health, NIH)

In patchy doses in the open ocean, Sargassum contributes to ocean health by providing habitat for turtles, crabs, fish, and birds and, like other plants, producing oxygen via photosynthesis.

(Satellites Find Biggest Seaweed Bloom in the World, NASA)

In the midst of an animated discussion on the domestic habits of turtles (one of those amiable creatures having strolled up from the river), the faint sound of a bell warned them that Hannah had put the tea 'to draw', and they would just have time to get home to supper.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Part of the most remote island archipelago on Earth, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monumen is home to more than 7,000 marine species, including coral, fish, seals, turtles, whales, and several shipwrecks, and serves as the final resting place for more than 3,000 sailors and soldiers who served during World War II.

(National monument in Hawaii becomes world's largest marine protected area, NOAA)

This is the same date as the Cancer full moon lunar eclipse, so if you assumed your alliance would bumble along as slowly as the movement of a turtle—as it has recently—think again.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

It would appear that they are a half-brute, half-human species, a race apart, wherein there is no such thing as sex; that they are hatched out by the sun like turtle eggs, or receive life in some similar and sordid fashion; and that all their days they fester in brutality and viciousness, and in the end die as unlovely as they have lived.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The sand-banks far out were spotted with uncouth crawling forms, huge turtles, strange saurians, and one great flat creature like a writhing, palpitating mat of black greasy leather, which flopped its way slowly to the lake.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

These animals include jaguars, Spix's macaws, harpy eagles, vinaceous-breasted amazons, crowned solitary eagles, hawksbill turtles, green turtles, tarantulas, Amazon false coral snakes, Brazilian green racer snakes, cream-colored woodpeckers, blue spiny starfish, sharks, seahorses, piaba fish, sawfish, bluefin tuna, brown howler monkeys.

(Over 300 animal species threatened in Bahia, Agência Brasil)

One small child was poking turtles with Amy's cherished parasol, a second was eating gingerbread over Jo's best bonnet, and a third playing ball with her gloves, but all were enjoying themselves, and when Jo collected her damaged property to go, her escort accompanied her, begging her to come again, It was such fun to hear about Laurie's larks.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She listened to college stories with deep interest, caressed pointers and poodles without a murmur, agreed heartily that Tom Brown was a brick, regardless of the improper form of praise, and when one lad proposed a visit to his turtle tank, she went with an alacrity which caused Mamma to smile upon her, as that motherly lady settled the cap which was left in a ruinous condition by filial hugs, bearlike but affectionate, and dearer to her than the most faultless coiffure from the hands of an inspired Frenchwoman.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)