turf

1 of 2

noun

plural turfs ˈtərfs How to pronounce turf (audio) also turves ˈtərvz How to pronounce turf (audio)
1
a
: 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)
2
a
: territory that one considers to be under one's control
… a sea lion colony of 30 or more animals sleeping or fighting to protect their turf.Kerrie Waterworth
The assassination attempt served as a warning …. It … had the hallmark of the cartel staking out its turf, she [Gladys McCormick] said.Reuters
got caught in a turf war
b
: a frequently or habitually visited place : stomping ground
He grew up in Pennsylvania, in the small town of Shillington outside Reading, and seemed tickled to be returning to his old turf.Amy Gamerman
c
: territory sense 2
… would 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 Journal
If you can't compete directly, fight them outside of their turf. Target a different audience, or utilize channels that your competitors aren't currently touching. Timothy Carter
3
a
: a track or course for horse racing
b
: the sport or business of horse racing
4
b
: a piece of peat dried for fuel
turfy adjective

turf

2 of 2

verb

turfed; turfing; turfs

transitive verb

1
: to cover with turf
2
chiefly British : to eject forcibly : kick
usually used with out

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. Verb the pub keeper doesn't hesitate to turf out anyone who gets too drunk
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Also Read 102 Musicians Predict the Baseball Season This Big Sound session benefits from having been recorded on Thrice’s home turf at their own New Grass studio. Spin Staff, SPIN, 4 Oct. 2024 Healthcare — and who would handle it best — has continued to be contested turf in the final weeks of the presidential campaign. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
Any effort to turf MBS out of his central position in the current Saudi system would amount to something very close to regime change, which has not worked out well for the United States in the Middle East. F. Gregory Gause Iii, Foreign Affairs, 30 Mar. 2021 Those cracks couldn’t be concealed when VH was inducted into the Rock Hall class of 2007, when Hagar and Anthony, who had recently been turfed, were the only bandmates on hand to accept the honor. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 25 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for turf 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German zurba turf, Sanskrit darbha tuft of grass

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of turf was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near turf

Cite this Entry

“Turf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turf. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

turf

noun
ˈtərf
1
a
: the upper layer of soil bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat
also : a piece of this
b
: an artificial substitute for turf (as on a playing field)
2
: the sport or business of horse racing
3
: an area or a place that is or is felt to be under one's control
on my own turf

More from Merriam-Webster on turf

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!