desert tortoise

noun

: a large burrowing land tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) of arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and adjacent Mexico

Examples of desert tortoise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The desert tortoise just last week was up-listed by the California Department of Fish and Game to be endangered. Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024 Robinson is one of about 75 adoptable Sonoran desert tortoises for Arizonans looking for an unconventional pet. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024 Outside is a large backyard planted with cacti and citrus, apple, plum, cottonwood, and ironwood trees, a swing set, and a special area with rocks and a fountain for desert tortoises; downtown Tucson is a 20-minute drive. The Week Staff, theweek, 6 Mar. 2024 Residents say their concerns about construction dust, as well as the destruction of the mostly pristine land that is habitat for endangered desert tortoises, have been ignored by the county and state officials who approved it. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for desert tortoise 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desert tortoise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desert tortoise was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near desert tortoise

Cite this Entry

“Desert tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert%20tortoise. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on desert tortoise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!