turf

¹turf

noun \ˈtərf\

plural turfs \ˈtərfs\ also turves \ˈtərvz\

Definition of TURF

1

a : the upper stratum of soil bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat; also : a piece of this

b : an artificial substitute for this (as on a playing field)

c : grass 3

2

a : peat 2

b : a piece of peat dried for fuel

3

a : a track or course for horse racing

b : the sport or business of horse racing

4

a : territory considered by a teenage gang to be under its control

b : territory 2 <have to play two of the last three games on hostile turf — Joe Klein> <in chapter two, the author is on unfamiliar turf>; also : a sphere of activity or influence <people who could hurt him on his own foreign-policy turf — Wall Street Journal>

— turfy \ˈtər-fē\ adjective

Examples of TURF

1. a lawn made by laying turfs
2. Synthetic turf was installed in the playing field instead of grass.
3. playing fields with artificial turfs
4. The team played on home turf.

Origin of TURF

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German zurba turf, Sanskrit darbha tuft of grass

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

Rhymes with TURF

kerf, scurf, serf, surf

²turf

transitive verb

Definition of TURF

1

: to cover with turf

2

chiefly British : to eject forcibly : kick —usually used with out

First Known Use of TURF

15th century

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

turf

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In horticulture, the surface layer of soil with its matted, dense vegetation, usually grasses grown for ornamental or recreational use. Such turf grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bent grass, fine or red fescue, and perennial ryegrass among the popular cool-season types, and Bermuda grass, zoysia grass, and St. Augustine grass among the warm-season types. Turf grasses are often grown on turf, or sod, farms. Plugs, blocks, squares, or strips are cut and transplanted to areas where they quickly establish and grow. Lawns are fine-textured turfs that are mowed regularly and closely to develop into dense, uniformly green coverings that beautify open spaces and provide sports playing surfaces (e.g., tennis lawns, golf and bowling greens, and racing turfs).