box turtle

noun

1

: any of several North American land turtles (genus Terrapene) capable of withdrawing into their shell and closing it by hinged joints in the lower half

called also box tortoise

2

: any of several chiefly semiaquatic, Asian turtles (genera Cuora and Pyxidea of the family Geoemydidae) that have a carapace with a median keel and are capable of withdrawing into their shell and closing it by hinged joints in the plastron

Note: The Asian box turtles are not closely related to the North American box turtles.

Illustration of box turtle

Examples of box turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While the eastern box turtle is not considered an endangered species nationally, some states — including Michigan, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut — have listed it as a species of special concern, according to the National Wildlife Federation. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

Eastern box turtles intercepted during a border inspection. —Chelsea Chan, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025

According to the National Park Service, Eastern box turtles were once populous on the east coast from Maine to Florida, and were often found in people's backyard pools and ponds. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025

The eastern box turtle Carolyn Kaster/AP Rockalina is an eastern box turtle. —Alina Hartounian, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for box turtle

• fertile
• hurtle
• kirtle
• myrtle
• infertile

Kids Definition

box turtle

noun

: any of several North American land turtles able to withdraw completely into the shell and to close it by hinged joints in the lower shell