turtle: Meaning and Definition of

tur•tle

1. any reptile of the order Testudines, comprising aquatic and terrestrial species having the trunk enclosed in a shell consisting of a dorsal carapace and a ventral plastron.
2. (not used technically) an aquatic turtle as distinguished from a terrestrial one. Cf.(def. 1).
3. Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.
1. Naut.to capsize or turn over completely in foundering.
2. to overturn; upset:Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.

1. to catch turtles, esp. as a business.

tur•tle

1. a turtledove.