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

Many are poor but determined, keenly aware of the unique difficulties that surround them, from poverty and violence to drug traffickers and local turf wars. — Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, "What's Next For The Rescued Thai Soccer Team?," 10 July 2018 But after Guzman’s extradition to the United States, Lopez Nuñez reportedly engaged in a bloody turf war with the cartel leader’s sons for control of the drug trade. — Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, "Alleged El Sinaloa cartel leader extradited to U.S., faces trial in Virginia," 6 July 2018 The featured race is the Grade 3 $100,000 Wilshire Stakes with fillies and mares going a mile on the turf. — John Cherwa, latimes.com, "Racing! Justify has yet another day in the sun," 24 June 2018 Brady sat on the turf, resting his arms on his knees with a pose of resignation. — Dave Campbell, The Seattle Times, "Brady takes his 3rd Super Bowl loss, despite 500-yard game," 4 Feb. 2018 Rain in the White Mountains is preventing heavy equipment from installing a shock pad and the turf on top of aggregate layers already in place. — Jeff Metcalfe, azcentral, "ASU football cancels trip to Camp Tontozona due to field-construction delay," 13 July 2018 Residents in San Diego County now can receive $2.75 per square foot for replacing turf with sustainable landscaping features as part of a new Landscape Transformation Program launched this week across Southern California. — Pomerado News, "Water agencies increase incentives to replace turf," 13 July 2018 Then and now Fulton Market, Chicago’s oldest food market, dating back to 1850, once was the turf of three of the nation’s largest meatpackers — Philip Armour, Gustavus Swift and Nelson Morris. — Ryan Ori, chicagotribune.com, "In exodus from Fulton Market, surviving meatpackers scatter and adapt," 13 July 2018 However, outsiders can help contain the jihadists, stopping them conquering turf or building anything resembling a state. — The Economist, "Jihadists are trying to take over the Sahel," 12 July 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.