noun
tortoise
TAW-tuhs
noun
1
A land-dwelling reptile with a hard domed shell into which it can withdraw its head and legs for protection.
"The tortoise moved slowly across the garden."
"Some tortoise species can live for over a hundred years."
How to Use Tortoise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slow-moving, shelled reptile that lives on land, as opposed to a turtle, which lives mostly in water.
Common mistake
In everyday British English "tortoise" is land-only; "turtle" is used for the water-dwelling relatives, though usage varies elsewhere.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
tortoises plural
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The _____ moved slowly across the garden.
Etymology
From Middle English tortuse, from Medieval Latin tortuca, of uncertain deeper origin; the modern spelling was likely shaped by the similar word "porpoise."