turtle

tur·tle

noun, often attrib \ˈtərt-^əl\

plural turtles also turtle

Definition of TURTLE

: any of an order (Testudines) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn—called also chelonian