[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/turtle/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [T](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/t/) / turtle # turtle noun (a turtle, turtles) «turtle» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A turtle is a reptile with a hard shell on its back that covers its body; many turtles live in the sea or in rivers and ponds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#m1) 2. In American English, turtle is often used for any animal with this kind of shell, including tortoises. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#m2) ### In the lessons In science, turtles are reptiles: they are cold-blooded, breathe air and lay eggs on land; sea turtles swim thousands of kilometres. In environment lessons, plastic bags hurt sea turtles because they look like jellyfish. Phrases: sea turtle, turtle shell, turn turtle (turn upside down). ### Examples - The sea turtle laid her eggs in the sand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x1) - Turtles pull their heads into their shells. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x2) - Baby turtles crawl to the sea at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x3) - A turtle must come up to breathe air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x4) - Plastic in the ocean harms turtles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x5) - Our class pet is a turtle called Speedy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x6) - The boat turned turtle in the storm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x7) - Turtles have no teeth but a sharp beak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x8) - The movement, gentle though it was, woke the turtle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/#x9) ### Note Countable. In the UK and Australia, turtle usually means one that lives in water, and tortoise one that lives on land; Americans may call both turtles. A turtle cannot climb out of its shell: the shell is part of its skeleton. ## In Jewish tradition Turtle-doves were the cheap offerings of poorer people, brought as burnt-offerings or sin-offerings. In the Psalms Israel is called God's turtle-dove, weak and in need of protection. In the Song of Songs its voice is a sign of spring, and Jeremiah says it knows its season of migration. **Interpretation.** Tradition notes that the Torah allowed a poor person to bring a bird so everyone could offer something, and it honors what a person can afford. ### Examples - And he shall offer one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; (Torah LEV.14.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/turtle/#x1) - And if his offering to the LORD be a burnt-offering of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons. (Torah LEV.1.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/turtle/#x2) - and two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; and the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering. (Torah LEV.14.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/turtle/#x3) - O deliver not the soul of Thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast; forget not the life of Thy poor for ever. (Writings PSA.74.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/turtle/#x4) - The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (Writings SNG.2.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/turtle/#x5) - Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but My people know not the ordinance of the LORD. (Prophets JER.8.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/turtle/#x6) ### Note Countable. In the UK and Australia, turtle usually means one that lives in water, and tortoise one that lives on land; Americans may call both turtles. A turtle cannot climb out of its shell: the shell is part of its skeleton. ## Early Modern English ### Meaning A small wild dove, not a reptile. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/T/turtle/#m1) ### Then and now Today "turtle" means a reptile with a shell. The old sense is the turtle-dove, a bird. ### Examples - And he shall offer one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; (Torah LEV.14.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/T/turtle/#x1) - "Hither, thither, through the sky, turtle-doves and linnets, fly! (Grimm's Fairy Stories) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/T/turtle/#x2) - And if his offering to the LORD be a burnt-offering of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons. (Torah LEV.1.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/T/turtle/#x3) ### Note Today: turtle-dove. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «turtle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/turtle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«turtle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/turtle.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «turtle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/turtle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«turtle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/turtle.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «turtle» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/T/turtle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«turtle» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/turtle.html) on Mova free.