snapping turtle

noun

Definition of snapping turtle

: 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

Examples of snapping turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alligator snapping turtles are sometimes considered less dangerous than other kinds of snapping turtles, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources says. — Jared Gilmour, miamiherald, "Missing a finger? This man just found one — inside a snapping turtle, Louisiana cops say," 13 June 2018 Master Police Officer Hawkins stopped to help a large snapping turtle cross the road after leaving a Honor Guard detail at the Naturalization Ceremony yesterday. — Janine Puhak, Fox News, "Police officer helps turtle cross road in torrential downpour," 7 June 2018 The students watched as the sick puppy was eaten alive by a snapping turtle in a Preston, Idaho junior high classroom in early March, state prosecutors alleged in a Friday filing. — Alex Horton, Washington Post, "Middle school teacher charged for feeding live puppy to snapping turtle while students watched," 3 June 2018 For Sedaris a snapping turtle with a partly missing foot and a tumor on its head becomes an unlikely leitmotif. — Alan Cumming, New York Times, "David Sedaris Has a New Essay Collection. It Changed Alan Cumming’s Whole Worldview.," 25 May 2018 He is charged after allegedly feeding puppy to snapping turtle. — Katy Moeller, idahostatesman, "Idaho teacher accused of animal cruelty pleads not guilty at court appearance Tuesday," 10 July 2018 Meanwhile, people all over Massachusetts are painstakingly shepherding snapping turtles out of the road at such a clip that the State Police had to issue a warning, the Globe reported. — Nestor Ramos, BostonGlobe.com, "Alleged hit-and-run driver gave voice to attitude many adopt behind the wheel: Get out of my way," 7 June 2018 An Idaho teacher accused of feeding a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in front of several middle school students was charged Friday with misdemeanor animal cruelty. — Robert Gearty, Fox News, "Idaho teacher accused of feeding live puppy to turtle faces charge," 3 June 2018 In the most wonderfully weird tale, Sedaris discovers some people feeding snapping turtles Pop Tarts, potato chips and all sorts of other junk food. — Caroline Leavitt, SFChronicle.com, "'Calypso,' by David Sedaris," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'snapping turtle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.