box turtle

box turtle

n.

1. Any of several chiefly terrestrial turtles of the genus Terrapene of North America, having a domed carapace and a hinged bottom shell that pulls up against the carapace, allowing the animal to become completely encased within its shell.

2. Any of various terrestrial or aquatic turtles of the genera Cuora and Pyxidea of China and Southeast Asia, having a similar appearance to American box turtles. In both senses also called box tortoise.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

box′ tur`tle

n.

any chiefly terrestrial North American turtle of the genus Terrapene, having a hinged shell that can be tightly shut. Also called box′ tor`toise.

[1795–1805, Amer.]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

box turtle - chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly box tortoise turtle - any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs for swimming genus Terrapene, Terrapene - box turtles Terrapene ornata, Western box turtle - primarily a prairie turtle of western United States and northern Mexico

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

tortue-boîte