1
: any of a family (Testudinidae) of terrestrial turtles
broadly
: turtle
2
: someone or something regarded as slow or laggard
Examples of tortoise in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are mountains, deserts, swamps, coral reefs, and islands, plus a wide array of wildlife — from the elk and pronghorn in Grand Teton National Park to the tortoises and bighorn sheep in Joshua Tree.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2025
Bezos and Musk, the tortoise and the hare, appeared chatty and friendly in a way that has not been the norm for the rivals.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2025
The shelter announced in a Jan. 17 Instagram video that the tortoise reunited with his family after his stay there.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Yards should be escape-proof to allow for the tortoise to exercise and roam freely.
—Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
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Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2025
Bezos and Musk, the tortoise and the hare, appeared chatty and friendly in a way that has not been the norm for the rivals.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2025
The shelter announced in a Jan. 17 Instagram video that the tortoise reunited with his family after his stay there.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Yards should be escape-proof to allow for the tortoise to exercise and roam freely.
—Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tortoise
Dictionary Entries Near tortoise
Cite this Entry
“Tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortoise. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tortoise
noun
tor·toise
ˈtȯrt-əs 
: turtle entry 2
especially
: a land-dwelling turtle
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