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