Turtle Definition Turtle Definition 1

Turtle (noun) — a small or medium reptile with a hard shell on its back. It moves slowly and can hide inside its shell. Some turtles live in water, and some live on land. Let’s consider some key moments of “turtle” description

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/ˈtɜː.təl/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Turtle”?

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flag us Audio (US):
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Tips for “turtle” pronunciation

The ur sound is key. For an American accent, try to make a strong, r-colored vowel sound, like in the word “her.”

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Use of “Turtle” in a Sentence: Examples

After we’ve discovered the meaning of the word and how to pronounce it, it’s time to learn how to define “turtle” in context.

Turtles eat leaves and insects.
I found a turtle in my garden today!
My sister wants to get a turtle for her birthday.
Some turtles can live in the sea.
Turtles usually make nests in warm places.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Turtle”?

To make your speech sound natural and smooth, here are some of the “turtle” synonyms you can use.

Related nouns: tortoise sea turtle animal

Synonyms (contextual): none, it’s a specific noun

Common collocations: a turtle crawls to catch a turtle a turtle’s nest

“Turtle” Word Formation and Description in Context

The real magic starts when you learn how the “turtle” goes with other parts of speech. Let’s take a look at some of the examples:

With adjectives: sea turtle green turtle slow turtle

With verbs: a turtle swims to find a turtle to walk a turtle

With nouns (noun + noun): land turtle turtle watcher turtle breeder turtle dove

Idioms and Phrases with “Turtle”

But how could a new vocabulary miss the popular idioms built around this word? Idioms are just like gemstones — they enrich our language and charm the audience. Here are our top-3 sayings with “turtle.”

  • At a turtle’s pace — to do something very slowly but confidently.

    The old computer processes data at a turtle’s pace, but it eventually gets the job done.
Turtle Idioma Turtle Idioma 1
  • To retreat into the shell like a turtle — to go silent and shy.

    After the teacher’s criticism, Jessica retreated into her shell like a turtle.

“Turtle” Meaning: Exercises for Practice

These exercises will help you secure the result and take a new word into your vocabulary for sure. Let’s check them out:

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
Turtles can't swim.
2
All turtles eat plants.
3
Turtles move slowly.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put the words below in order to receive a correct sentence:
1
like
you
turtles?
Do
2
turtle
My
leaves
eats
3
saw
a
sea
last
I
turtle
summer
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Read accurately and select the correct option:
1
I am new to this road, so I drive at a turtle’s pace. What does it mean?
2
Jessica and Matt were sailing down the river, but suddenly their boat turned turtle. What does it mean?
3
What do we call turtles that live in the water?

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Turtle” Word in Other Languages

Want to know more? We knew you were a quick study. Here’s how “turtle” sounds in the top-3 popular languages in Europe.

Language Word for “Turtle”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Tortuga
Flag French French   Tortue
Flag German German   Schildkröte

Did You Know These Facts About “Turtle”?

The interesting facts about these animals will help you to remember the term “turtle” quickly and solidly.

  • The existence of turtles dates back more than 200 million years.

    According to National Geographic Kids, turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups in the world, and they lived when the dinosaurs did.
  • A turtle’s shell is a part of its body and grows with the animal.

    The BBC claims that the turtle’s shell is made up of nearly 50 bones and becomes bigger as the turtle grows. This makes it impossible for a turtle to overgrow its shell.
  • Turtles can live a very long time. Some kinds live over 100 years!

    Turtles are real long-livers and can boast of longer lifespans than most of the world’s creatures. This range varies depending on their species.

Famous Quotes Featuring “Turtle”

Last but not least, let’s discuss uses of this word in world-famous poems, movies, and novels. This will help you to enrich your language with beautiful similes and metaphors.

“The turtle spills him out and he stumbles into the army of wooden warriors, proceed to whack every part of his body.”

— Kung Fu Panda

Explanation: This piece depicts one of the battle scenes between a panda called Po and his kung fu master, a red panda named Shifu.

“Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
Distance, and no space was seen
‘Twixt the turtle and his queen’”

— William Shakespeare

Explanation: This part of Shakespeare’s poem refers to the love between the Turtle dove and the Phoenix, so strong and complete that it can overcome all the barriers and distances.

“…Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Heroes in a half-shell, turtle power!…”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Explanation: The theme song presents us with a group of teenage turtles, each of them empowered with super-ninja skills, and ready to battle the world’s evil.