turtles
turtles — noun
- turtlessingular
- turtlesesplural
1. a large reptile with a hard, rounded shell on its back that lives mainly in the
a large reptile with a hard, rounded shell on its back that lives mainly in the ocean and comes onto sandy beaches to lay its eggs
A green sea turtle swam slowly past the coral reef where Elena was snorkeling.
countable noun with descriptor: green sea turtle
Every summer, sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs in the warm sand.
collocation: come ashore to lay eggs
The marine biologist tagged a sea turtle to track its migration route across the Pacific.
Plastic bags floating in the water can harm sea turtles that mistake them for jellyfish.
At sunset the children watched a tiny baby turtle crawl from its nest toward the bright ocean.
- sea turtle
the full, more specific term for this sense; 'turtle' alone can also cover freshwater species
用法筆記
In American English, 'turtle' usually refers to sea-dwelling and freshwater-dwelling species, while 'tortoise' is used for land species. In British English, 'turtle' is only the sea variety and 'tortoise' covers both land and freshwater types.
常見錯誤
2. a freshwater reptile with a hard shell on its back, found in rivers, lakes, or p
a freshwater reptile with a hard shell on its back, found in rivers, lakes, or ponds, that can tuck its limbs inside the shell when threatened
A small turtle sat on a rock in the middle of the pond, warming itself in the sun.
countable noun with location: pond
Kenji showed his little sister the turtle he had spotted near the bank of the river.
The red-eared slider is a common pet turtle that lives in indoor aquariums or garden ponds.
When winter arrives, freshwater turtles bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of the lake.
Omar carefully moved a snapping turtle off the road with a long stick so it would not be hit.
- terrapin
used in British English for freshwater turtles, especially smaller species kept as pets
用法筆記
In American English this sense is included under 'turtle'. In British English, freshwater species are more often called 'terrapins'.
常見錯誤
3. all members of the order Testudines, a group of shelled reptiles that includes b
all members of the order Testudines, a group of shelled reptiles that includes both aquatic species and land-dwelling tortoises, each protected by a hard, bone-covered shell and a toothless beak
Turtles are among the oldest living reptile groups and have been on Earth for over 200 million years.
scientific context: 'oldest living reptile groups'
Unlike most turtles, tortoises live entirely on land and have thick, sturdy legs instead of flippers.
comparison: tortoises vs turtles
The zoo's reptile house displays turtles from five continents, including giant tortoises from the Galapagos.
All turtles lay their eggs on land, even species that spend almost their whole lives in the water.
Biologists classify turtles by the shape of their shell and the number of bones in their skull.
用法筆記
This is the broad, scientific sense that covers all members of the order Testudines. Use this sense when the specific habitat (sea, freshwater, or land) does not matter.
4. a knitted top that has a long, snug collar covering the neck, which can be folde
a knitted top that has a long, snug collar covering the neck, which can be folded over or worn standing up; also called a turtleneck
Elena wore a black turtleneck and a long wool coat to the winter concert.
full form: turtleneck
The actor's cream-coloured turtleneck showed beneath his blue suit jacket at the awards show.
Grandma knitted Diego a warm turtleneck for his trip to the mountains in December.
A turtleneck keeps your neck warm on cold mornings without the need for an extra scarf.
- turtleneck
the standard full form of the word; preferred in writing and formal contexts
- polo neck
the British English term for the same garment
用法筆記
In American English, 'turtle' is a clipped, informal short form of 'turtleneck'. In British English, this garment is usually called a 'polo neck' or 'turtleneck'. This sense is less common than the reptile meaning.
常見錯誤
turtles — verb
- turtlespresent simple I / you / we / they
- turtleses3rd person singular
- turtlesing-ing form
- turtlesedpast simple
1. to curl your body inward and cover your head and face with your arms during a fi
to curl your body inward and cover your head and face with your arms during a fight, instead of punching back — like a turtle hiding inside its shell
The boxer turtled behind his gloves as his opponent threw a quick series of punches.
turtle behind + noun phrase
When the champion attacked, the challenger turtled up against the ropes and waited.
phrasal use: turtled up
The coach yelled at the young fighter to stop turtling and start throwing some jabs.
Instead of turtling on the defensive, Thiago stepped forward and landed a solid right hook.
- cover up
the more general boxing term for raising both gloves to protect the head; 'turtle' implies a tighter, more curled defensive posture
- attack
turtling is purely defensive; attacking is the opposite action
文法句型
turtle + (up)
turtle behind + noun
用法筆記
This verb comes from boxing and martial arts. It describes a purely defensive posture. The variant 'turtle up' is more common than 'turtle' alone. This sense is rare outside sports commentary.