turtle

turtle — noun

1. a large ocean-dwelling animal with a hard rounded shell covering most of its bod

1.名詞A2
釋義

a large ocean-dwelling animal with a hard rounded shell covering most of its body. It can pull its head, legs, and tail inside for protection and goes onto beaches to lay its eggs.

例句

Maeve saw a large sea turtle swimming near the coral reef.

collocation: sea turtle

The beach is protected because sea turtles lay their eggs there every year.

passive: beach is protected for egg-laying

同義詞
  • sea turtle

    the full name, used to distinguish from freshwater or land species

  • marine turtle

    more formal or scientific term for sea-dwelling turtles

用法筆記

Distinguish from 'tortoise' (land-dwelling) and 'terrapin' (freshwater). In American English, 'turtle' can refer to all shelled reptiles; in British English, 'turtle' usually means only sea-dwelling species.

常見錯誤

❌I saw a turtle walking slowly across the desert.
✅I saw a tortoise walking slowly across the desert.
💡Tortoises live on land; turtles live mainly in water.

2. a freshwater reptile protected by a hard shell. It comes onto land to lay eggs a

2.名詞A2
釋義

a freshwater reptile protected by a hard shell. It comes onto land to lay eggs and can tuck its head and limbs into the shell for safety.

例句

Zuri watched a small turtle climb onto a rock in the middle of the pond.

The children caught a turtle in the river and showed it to their teacher.

同義詞
  • terrapin

    the term for edible freshwater turtles, common in British and Southern US English

  • pond turtle

    a general name for turtles living in still water

用法筆記

In British English, freshwater turtles are more often called 'terrapins.' In American English, 'turtle' is the common term for both sea and freshwater species.

常見錯誤

❌We saw a turtle on the farm walking through the grass.
✅We saw a tortoise on the farm walking through the grass.
💡If the animal lives only on land, it is a tortoise, not a turtle.

3. any member of the reptile group Testudines, which have a hard bony or leathery s

3.名詞B1
釋義

any member of the reptile group Testudines, which have a hard bony or leathery shell covering the body, and includes sea turtles, land tortoises, and freshwater terrapins.

例句

Meera learned that turtles, tortoises, and terrapins all belong to the same reptile group.

collocation: belong to the same [group]

Many species of turtle have shells hard enough to block attacks from predators.

同義詞
  • chelonian

    the formal scientific term for any member of the order Testudines

  • testudine

    a technical adjective or noun used in zoology

用法筆記

Typically used in scientific or general-classification contexts. The subject is often a plural noun or preceded by 'species of' or 'types of.' Distinguish from the everyday sense (sense 1 or 2) where 'turtle' refers to a specific habitat type.

常見錯誤

❌A tortoise is a type of turtle with a flat shell for swimming.
✅A tortoise is a type of turtle with a domed shell and strong legs for walking on land.
💡Tortoises are land-dwelling turtles with differently shaped shells and limbs.

4. a piece of clothing, usually a knitted top, with a high collar that fits closely

4.名詞B1
釋義

a piece of clothing, usually a knitted top, with a high collar that fits closely around the neck and can be folded over.

例句

Heather put on a black turtleneck and a pair of jeans for the party.

The store sold turtlenecks in many colours, including blue and dark grey.

collocation: turtleneck in [colour/colours]

同義詞

用法筆記

American English term. In British English, this style is usually called a 'polo neck.' Also used attributively as 'turtleneck sweater' or 'turtleneck top.'

常見錯誤

❌She wore a turtle to the dinner party.
✅She wore a turtleneck to the dinner party.
💡'Turtle' alone means the animal; the clothing is always 'turtleneck.'

turtle — verb