释义 |
tor·toise \ˈtȯr]d.əs, -ȯ(ə)], ]təs sometimes ]ˌtȯiz or ]ˌtȯis\ noun (plural tortoises also tortoise) Etymology: Middle English tortuce, tortous, tortuse, probably alteration (the gen. being taken as the noun attrib.) of tortu, from Middle French tortue — more at turtle 1. : a reptile of the order Testudinata : turtle — used especially of terrestrial forms; see giant tortoise 2. : someone or something regarded as slow, tardy, or laggard < complacent about the tortoise, Reaction, plodding up from the rear — H.L.Smith b. 1906 > 3. : tortoiseshell 4. : a strong brown that is yellower, less strong, and slightly lighter than average russet, yellower and less strong than rust, and yellower and slightly duller than gold brown 5. : testudo 2 |