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to turtle

to turtle

1 9.8
To turn a boat completely upside down
  • verb
  • /ˈtɜːrtl/
translation icon : zozobrar
  • The sailboat turtled in the heavy winds, causing the passengers to quickly jump overboard.

Examples

  • We did Santa's Rocking Holiday Regatta, and the boat carrying Santa Claus turtled, and Santa just went right down.

  • During the storm, the small boat turtled and left the crew scrambling to stay afloat.

  • While racing, their vessel turtled unexpectedly, flipping over in the choppy waters.

Synonyms

to capsize
vsto turtle
21 6.0

To turn over in the water by accident

is the same action but defined as turning completely upside down without accident focus
to turn turtle
vsto turtle
8.4

To flip over so the bottom becomes the top, often about boats or cars

is the same but stresses complete upside down turning rather than general overturn

Phrasal Verbs

To flip over so the bottom becomes the top, often about boats or cars

to turtle up
  • Informal
9.8

To become quiet and avoid people when feeling stressed or afraid

Compounds

18 2.5

A large turtle that lives in the sea and uses flippers to swim

5 6.3

A soup made from turtle meat that people eat on special occasions

3 5.4

A large freshwater animal with a strong jaw that can bite when frightened

2 5.2

A North American land turtle with a high shell that can close tightly to protect itself

mock turtle
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A soup like turtle soup made without turtle meat

1 8.2

A soup made from a calf's head or other meat that copies turtle soup

1 3.9

A large sea turtle with a smooth greenish shell that lives in warm seas

loggerhead turtle
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A large sea turtle with a broad head that eats crabs and fish

A large freshwater turtle from the southeastern United States with three shell ridges and a powerful jaw

A very large sea turtle with a soft, leather-like shell that swims long distances

1 7.5

A soup made from the meat of green turtles, often served as a special food

1 5.1

A freshwater turtle with bright yellow and red marks on its shell and skin

bastard turtle
  • Specialized
8.9

A grey sea turtle that lives on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America

A large freshwater turtle with a strong hooked jaw that bites when threatened

A very large sea turtle with a soft, flexible shell instead of hard plates

A large sea animal with a hard shell and flippers that lives in warm oceans

6.8

A small freshwater turtle that lives on the bottom of soft wet rivers and streams

7.7

A small freshwater turtle that gives off a strong smell when threatened

7.7

A large land tortoise that lives in burrows in the southeastern United States

hawksbill turtle
  • Specialized
7.5

A sea turtle with a pointed, hawk-like beak and a beautiful patterned shell that is endangered

A freshwater turtle with red marks on its lower shell that lives in rivers near Chesapeake Bay

A turtle that lives in water with a flat flexible shell, thick skin, and a strong bite

A tropical sea turtle with a hooked beak and a beautiful patterned shell valued for decoration and food

A water turtle with a flat soft shell that lives in rivers and lakes and bites hard

8.2

A very slow way of doing something that wastes time

5.0

A small black bean often dried and used in cooking

Western box turtle
  • Specialized
6.6

A land turtle with a shell that closes living on prairies in the western United States and northern Mexico

How Overturned

to turtle
1 9.8
to heel
  • Specialized
4 7.3
tilt
12 2.8

Surface Forms

turtle infinitive
turtled past
turtled past participle
turtling present participle
turtles third person singular

Etymology

Turtle meaning 'to turn completely upside down' comes from the image of a turtle flipped on its back and unable to move. So to turtle a boat is to capsize it and leave it upside down.