turtle
(tɜːʳtəl )
Word forms: turtles
1. countable noun
A turtle is a large reptile which has a thick shell covering its body and which lives in the sea most of the time. [British]
regional note: in AM, use sea turtle2. countable noun
A turtle is any reptile that has a thick shell around its body, for example a tortoise or terrapin. [US]
3. turn turtle phrase [VERB inflects]
If a boat turns turtle, it turns upside down when it is in the water.
The tug nearly turned turtle twice, but I managed to keep her upright.
Image of turtle
© Rich Carey, Shutterstock
Idioms:
turn turtle
if a boat turns turtle, it turns upside down when it is in the water
The dinghy nearly turned turtle twice, but I managed to keep her upright.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 海龟
Japanese: カメ 動物
- huge disparity
- huge disservice
- huge distraction
- huge dividend
- huge dollop
- huge donation
- huge drain
- huge draw
- huge drop
- huge earthquake
- huge effort
- huge ego
- huge embarrassment
- huge expanse
- huge expenditure
- huge explosion
- huge factory
- huge fan of
- huge favour
- huge fight
- huge flames
- huge following
- huge fuss
- huge gain
- huge gamble