tortoise

noun

tor·​toise ˈtȯr-təs 

1

: any of a family (Testudinidae) of terrestrial turtles

broadly : turtle

2

: someone or something regarded as slow or laggard

Examples of tortoise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So let’s grant the tortoise a head start, Zeno declared—say, a hundred yards. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

In the Broncos’ 38-24 win at Albertsons Stadium, the home team was the slow-moving tortoise with its offensive drives, taking a successful, methodical approach. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026

There were no cosmonauts aboard, but there were several smaller vertebrates — including the first two tortoises to ever go to space! — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Galapagos tortoises live so long that one of them hobbling around today could have encountered Charles Darwin in 1835. — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tortu, tortuse, from Anglo-French tortue — more at turtle

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tortoise

• desert tortoise
• giant tortoise
• tortoise beetle

Rhymes for tortoise

• fortis
• mortis
• abortus

Kids Definition

tortoise

noun

tor·​toise ˈtȯrt-əs 

: turtle entry 2

especially : a land-dwelling turtle