Turf

/tɝf/ · noun

Meaning

(uncountable) A layer of earth covered with grass; sod..

Definitions by Sense

1. (uncountable) A layer of earth covered with grass; sod.
2. (countable) A piece of such a layer cut from the soil. May be used as sod to make a lawn, dried for peat, stacked to form earthen structures, etc.
3. (countable) A block of peat used as fuel.
4. (uncountable, countable) A thick, carpet-like bed of algae.
5. (uncountable, specifically) A surface of synthetic fibers made to look like grass; artificial turf.
6. (uncountable, slang) A territory claimed by a gang as their own.
7. (uncountable, by extension) A person's domain or sphere of influence.
8. (uncountable, with "the", sports) A racetrack, hippodrome.

Example Sentences

Miss Thorn began digging up the turf with her lofter: it was a painful moment for me. ¶ “You might at least have tried me, Mrs. Cooke,” I said.

It was a sixth successive defeat for Klopp in a major final and at the final whistle, with Karius burying his face into the turf, there was not exactly a stampede of team-mates wanting to console him.

"It's an old custom the people had when they bought and sold land. They used to cut out a clod and hand it over to the buyer, and you weren't lawfully seised of your land - it didn't really belong to you - till the other fellow had actually given you a piece of it - like this." He held out the turves.

Frodo and Sam went forward and saw that amidst the clamorous host were set three high-seats built of green turves.

In ordinary peat-bogs, however, where turves are cut, there is always a large percentage of waste peat resulting from the digging, drying or transport of the turves, which can be utilized only by moulding it.

[…] the fireman has to divide his time between getting up into the bunker to throw more turfs into the cab, and getting down on his hands and knees to get it into the firebox, and even then a reserve supply of turf must be carried on a truck behind the engine, and stops must be made on each steep ascent to raise more steam.

The turf layer is made up of filamentous and thallose red algae.

In climates where grass struggles to grow, turf is usually used instead on sports fields.

Synonyms for turf

Antonyms for turf

Related Words

Word Forms

• turfs
• turves
• turfing
• turfed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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