Turtle /(tûr"t'l)/
Tur·tle
Turtle
n.
- The turtledove. (Zool.)
Turtle
n.
- Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian. (Zool.)
- 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.