snapping turtle

noun

: either of two large American freshwater turtles (family Chelydridae) with a large head, powerful jaws, a long tail, and a strong musky odor:

a

: one (Chelydra serpentina) that has the head covered with smooth skin, has large plates in a double row on the underside of the tail, and is distributed from eastern Canada to Central America

b

: alligator snapping turtle

Illustration of snapping turtle

• snapping turtle a

Examples of snapping turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While probably the best option if unable to stop or pass in another lane, snapping turtles cannot retract into its shell, and often will defend themselves by rearing up to snap. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 19 June 2024

And although Virginia hasn’t ever maintained records for giant snapping turtles, Marshall still wanted someone with the state to come look at it. —Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2024

His age is unknown, but snapping turtles can live up to 70 years, per DWR. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024

The camp begins in a swimming pool—still concrete—and then moves on to a swamp, with snapping turtles and slow-moving water, before concluding with some real rapids on a local river. —Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

snapping turtle

noun

: either of two large American freshwater turtles that have a large head, powerful jaws, and a long tail