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

Truffalino collapsed in the final stages of the third race on turf Sunday. — BostonGlobe.com, "Rain postpones NASCAR Cup race in Michigan," 10 June 2019 He was taken for $6,250 by leading trainer Jonathan Wong on March 24 and then won a $4,000 starter allowance May 5 in 55.93 seconds for 5 furlongs on turf. — Larry Stumes, SFChronicle.com, "This week at Golden Gate Fields, June 6-9," 5 June 2019 Guests disregarded Miami’s uncharacteristic weather and filled the venue as race after race (on turf and dirt) proceeded. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "Inside Miami's Pegasus Cup, the World’s Richest Horse Race," 1 Feb. 2019 In recent years, residential skyscrapers have inched closer to its turf, and more 40-story towers are under construction or soon to break ground in its 360-degree field of vision. — Seattle Sketcher Gabriel Campanario, The Seattle Times, "From then to now: Pink elephant of the Elephant Car Wash has seen Seattle change drastically around it," 7 Feb. 2019 There were signs, however, that enthusiasm for Ocasio-Cortez's brand of progressivism have faltered lately, even on her home turf. — Gregg Re, Fox News, "Ocasio-Cortez: 'Medicare for all' would save 'very large amount of money,' despite studies showing $30T cost," 16 Sep. 2018 Fiedler beat a candidate supported by Philly’s Electricians union, which for years has been one of the biggest kingmakers in the city, on its home turf. — Chris Brennan, Philly.com, "The left-wing uprising that led to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory in N.Y.? It happened first in Pa. | Clout," 6 July 2018 Kim Jong-pil had enjoyed a strong support from his home turf in central Chungcheong province and people who valued the rapid economic development during Park’s rule. — Hyung-jin Kim, Washington Post, "Kim Jong-pil, spymaster and two-time prime minister of South Korea, dies at 92," 24 June 2018 Entering the weekend, the Oregon State Beavers football program had three in-state commitments, but nothing outside the friendly confines of their home turf. — Andrew Nemec, OregonLive.com, "Omar Speights, 4-star DE, commits to Oregon State Beavers," 10 June 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.