green turtle

noun

: a large usually herbivorous sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) of warm waters with a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Island is one of the world’s most important conservation spots for green turtles, or Chelonia mydas, with thousands arriving each year to lay their eggs. Reuters, NBC News, 16 Mar. 2023 Russian photographer Sergei Poletaev won the Urban category with his image of a monastery near Moscow backed by a huge power plant, while Oman's Qasim Al Farsi took first place in Wildlife with a shot of a green turtle preparing to return to the sea after laying its eggs. Jack Guy, CNN, 8 Sep. 2021 In Florida, scientists estimate that the population of green turtle nests climbed from 62 in 1979 to 37,341 in 2015. Eric Bender, Discover Magazine, 15 Oct. 2021 The researchers started with clutches of green turtle eggs collected in Queensland. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 24 May 2016 Cariuma collaborated with National Geographic to bring five new sneaker styles to life that celebrate two species—the Madagascar gecko and the green turtle. Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2022 The group hopes the findings can help inform future conservation efforts aimed toward green turtle populations. Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2019 Denisse Holzhauer created an image of what appeared to be a green turtle on the youngster’s face. Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 30 Sep. 2022 As of May 22, Indian River County tallied 55 leatherback nests, 569 loggerhead nests and one green turtle nest. Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'green turtle.' 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

1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of green turtle was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near green turtle

Cite this Entry

“Green turtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20turtle. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

green turtle

noun
: a large usually plant-eating sea turtle with a smooth greenish shell

More from Merriam-Webster on green turtle

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