Tortoise
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈtɔɹ.təs/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Tortoise is a noun meaning Synonym of cat (sense 11, a wheeled shelter).
Meaning
Synonym of cat (sense 11, a wheeled shelter).
More Meanings
- Any of various land-dwelling reptiles, of the family Testudinidae (chiefly Canada, US) or the order Testudines (chiefly UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, India), whose body is enclosed in a shell (carapace plus plastron). The animal can withdraw its head and four legs partially into the shell, providing some protection from predators.
Example Sentences
The tortoise, with its characteristic protrusion of the head and neck, was a symbol sacred to Venus. It represented the procreative principle.
Word Forms
- tortoises
Synonyms for tortoise
Depending on context, synonyms include shellpad, cat.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include turtle, turtles, spotted, thighed, stinkpot, blanding.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.