turtle (plural turtles)

(zoology, US, Canada) Any land or marine reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body. See also tortoise.Synonyms: (obsolete) shellpad, (archaic) shield-toad(zoology, Australia, Britain, specifically) A marine reptile of that order.Synonym: sea turtle(military, historical) An Ancient Roman attack method, where the shields held by the soldiers hide them, not only left, right, front and back, but also from above.Synonym: testudo(computing) A type of robot having a domed case (and so resembling the reptile), used in education, especially for making line drawings by means of a computer program.(computing) An on-screen cursor that serves the same function as a turtle for drawing. (printing, historical) The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.(computing theory) A small element towards the end of a list of items to be bubble sorted, and thus tending to take a long time to be swapped into its correct position. Compare rabbit.(dance) A breakdancing move consisting of a float during which the dancer's weight shifts from one hand to the other, producing rotation or a circular walk.(television) A low stand for a lamp etc.