turf

noun

\ ˈtərf

plural turfs\ ˈtərfs

\ also turves\ ˈtərvz

Definition of turf

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the upper stratum of soil bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat also : a piece of this

b : an artificial substitute for this (as on a playing field)

c : grass sense 3

2a : territory considered by a gang to be under its control

b : territory sense 2 have to play two of the last three games on hostile turf— Joe Klein in chapter two, the author is on unfamiliar turf also : a sphere of activity or influence people who could hurt him on his own foreign-policy turf — Wall Street Jour.

3a : a track or course for horse racing

b : the sport or business of horse racing

4a : peat sense 2

b : a piece of peat dried for fuel

turf

verb

turfed; turfing; turfs

Definition of turf (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cover with turf

2 chiefly British : to eject forcibly : kick —usually used with out

Other Words from turf Example Sentences Learn More about turf

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Examples of turf in a Sentence

Noun

a lawn made by laying turfs Synthetic turf was installed in the playing field instead of grass. playing fields with artificial turfs The team played on home turf.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Lawn aerators are designed to promote healthy turf growth by promoting airflow and absorption of water and key nutrients. — Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, "What Is a Lawn Aerator, and Do I Need One?," 28 Mar. 2019 Scrapping the appraisal requirement would open a swath of new turf for upstart property valuation companies, like HouseCanary Inc., which use artificial intelligence, algorithms and sometimes even drones to value homes. — Cezary Podkul, WSJ, "OK, Computer: How Much Is My House Worth?," 29 Nov. 2018 Qualifying projects generally must remove between 250 and 1,500 square feet of turf in the front yard, though some exceptions apply. — Pomerado News, "Water agencies increase incentives to replace turf," 13 July 2018 According to the Guardian, during the first game against Iceland, Messi covered less than a mile of turf while not in possession of the ball, a staggeringly low amount for an outfield player and indeed, less than two goalkeepers. — Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, "Why Lionel Messi hates playing for Argentina in World Cup," 24 June 2018 Someone stole a tractor, drove it onto the football field at Gresham's Sam Barlow High School and tore up large sections of artificial turf, police say. — Jim Ryan, OregonLive.com, "Suspected tractor thief tears up Gresham football field, police say," 4 June 2018 That patch of turf from right to left tackle and everywhere in between has been ground zero for getting quarterbacks sacked at a record pace, blowing resources of cap space and draft picks and season-busting injuries. — Armando Salguero, miamiherald, "Miami Dolphins' strength emerges from most troubled area on the team," 29 May 2018 With about 15 feet of turf separating her from a second consecutive UIL Class 5A state title, the Magnolia sophomore felt calm and confident. — Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, "Magnolia's Halle Whitney wins second consecutive state golf title," 22 May 2018 One of the outlets that posted a video was longtime turf writer Ray Paulick’s website. — Tim Layden, SI.com, "Can Justify Overcome Obstacles to Move Closer to History at the Preakness?," 17 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

And with 52 of 55 seats on the council held by Labour, there was little prospect of the party being turfed out and the company shut down by a new administration. — The Economist, "Robin Hood Energy, the company bringing power to the people," 3 May 2018 Damaged property, Zaremba Drive: A Zaremba resident called police at about 4:30 p.m. April 20 and said that earlier in the day, a silver sport-utility vehicle turfed his front lawn. — Bob Sandrick, cleveland.com, "Drunk driver passes out behind wheel of SUV; silver SUV turfs lawn, hits garbage can: Brook Park police blotter," 4 May 2018 South Korea, after decades under strongmen who were less repressive but nevertheless still iron-fisted, has emerged as a democracy so vibrant that citizens peacefully turfed a president from office last year. — Anna Fifield, Washington Post, "Talk of peace with North Korea has the South wondering: Will this time be different?," 28 Apr. 2018 Schools that are turfing their baseball/softball fields have their phones ringing constantly. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, "Springer: Basketball banners hung 3 miles apart; baseball off to a soggy start," 30 Mar. 2018 He was dumped as the nation’s president eight months later in a foreshadowing of how Zuma himself would be turfed out 10 years later. — Bloomberg.com, "Zuma’s Exit Ends ‘One-Man Disaster’ That Roiled His Nation," 14 Feb. 2018 Riddled by infighting, the party has failed to present a coherent vision for the country since being turfed out of power by Abe in a 2012 landslide after three years in government. — Andy Sharp, Bloomberg.com, "Japan's Opposition Picks New Leader to Challenge Slumping Abe," 31 Aug. 2017 Damage to property, Chagrin Boulevard: A resident reported on June 9 that somebody ran into his mailbox and turfed his lawn. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland.com, "Woman hospitalized after hitting light pole: Moreland Hills police blotter," 15 June 2017

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