snapping turtle

noun

: either of two large American freshwater turtles (family Chelydridae) with a large head, powerful jaws, a long tail, and a strong musky odor:

a

: one (Chelydra serpentina) that has the head covered with smooth skin, has large plates in a double row on the underside of the tail, and is distributed from eastern Canada to Central America

b

: alligator snapping turtle

Illustration of snapping turtle

• snapping turtle a

Examples of snapping turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The flowers, which are shaped like a snapping turtle’s head, are held on erect stems flanked with leathery green leaves. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025

This was more like a caterpillar body with odd patterns on its plates and a snapping turtle mouth. —Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 9 June 2025

The famed snapping turtle was spotted basking in the Chicago River this week. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025

The etchings reflect the 13-month lunar calendars the tribes used, with a different design on each of the 13 scales on a snapping turtle’s back. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for snapping turtle

• infertile
• fertile
• hurtle
• kirtle
• myrtle

Kids Definition

snapping turtle

noun

: either of two large American freshwater turtles that have a large head, powerful jaws, and a long tail