Turtle /(tûr"t'l)/

Tur·tle

Turtle

n.
  1. The turtledove. (Zool.)

Turtle

n.
  1. Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian. (Zool.)
  2. The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press. (Printing)

Phrases & Compounds

Alligator turtle
See under Alligator, Box, etc.
green turtle
a marine turtle of the genus Chelonia, having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of which (Chelonia Midas) inhabits the warm part of the Atlantic Ocean, and sometimes weighs eight hundred pounds or more; the other (Chelonia virgata) inhabits the Pacific Ocean. Both species are similar in habits and feed principally on seaweed and other marine plants, especially the turtle grass.
Turtle cowrie
a large, handsome cowrie (Cypraea testudinaria); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied resemblance to a tortoise in color and form.
Turtle grass
a marine plant (Thalassia testudinum) with grasslike leaves, common about the West Indies.
Turtle shell
tortoise shell. See under Tortoise.