turtle
/ˈtɝtl̩/ noun B1- Any land, aquatic, or semi-aquatic reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body. See also tortoise.
- Senses resembling a turtle in protection
- An Ancient Roman attack method, where the shields held by the soldiers hide them, not only left, right, front and back, but also from above.
- A type of robot having a domed case (and so resembling the reptile), used in education, especially for making line drawings by means of a computer program.
- An on-screen cursor that serves the same function as a turtle for drawing.
- A breakdancing move consisting of a float during which the dancer's weight shifts from one hand to the other, producing rotation or a circular "walk".
- A position reminiscent of a turtle.
- A position in which a person drops down all fours, limbs and chin tucked in, to protect their core.
Plural turtles
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
The long grass rustled at her feet as the White Rabbit hurried by—the frightened Mouse splashed his way through the neighbouring pool—she could hear the rattle of the teacups as the March Hare and his friends shared their never-ending meal, and the shrill voice of the Queen ordering off her unfortunate guests to execution—once more the pig-baby was sneezing on the Duchess’s knee, while plates and dishes crashed around it—once more the shriek of the Gryphon, the squeaking of the Lizard’s slate-pencil, and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs, filled the air, mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable Mock Turtle.
So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change to dull reality—the grass would be only rustling in the wind, and the pool rippling to the waving of the reeds—the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep-bells, and the Queen’s shrill cries to the voice of the shepherd boy—and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, and all the other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the confused clamour of the busy farm-yard—while the lowing of the cattle in the distance would take the place of the Mock Turtle’s heavy sobs.
“Well, I never heard it before,” said the Mock Turtle; “but it sounds uncommon nonsense.”
“I should like to have it explained,” said the Mock Turtle.
Other matches
Learn turtle in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.