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Tortoises Meaning in English

word · lemma: tortoise

ˈtɔɹtəsəz
TOR-tuh-siz
tˈɔːtəsɪz
TAW-tuh-siz

Definition

Tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles with hard shells and slow movements. They are different from turtles, which usually live in water.

Usage & Nuances

'Tortoises' refers only to land species, not aquatic turtles. Common collocations: 'giant tortoises', 'pet tortoises'. In American English, people may call all these animals 'turtles', but in British English, 'tortoise' and 'turtle' are distinct.

Example Sentences

Tortoises live for a very long time.

basic

Many tortoises eat leafy plants and vegetables.

basic

The park has several large tortoises.

basic

Some tortoises can weigh over 200 kilograms as adults.

natural

People sometimes keep tortoises as pets, but they need special care.

natural

If you look closely, you'll notice that tortoises have different shell shapes depending on their species.

natural