# tortoise

/ˈtɔɹtəs/ (US) · /tˈɔːtəs/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tortoise
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a slow-moving animal with a hard shell that lives on land. Unlike turtles, they do not live in the water.

For teachers: a terrestrial reptile of the family Testudinidae, characterised by a heavy, domed shell and stumpy, elephant-like feet.

## Examples

- The tortoise moved slowly across the garden.
- Because a tortoise lives entirely on land, it lacks the flippers or webbed feet found in its aquatic relatives.
- The giant tortoise is famous for its remarkable longevity, with some individuals documented to have lived for over a century and a half in protected island habitats.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The tortoise swam in the sea" but "The turtle swam in the sea" — Tortoises are strictly land-dwelling animals; aquatic species are called turtles.

## Usage notes

- Often distinguished from 'turtle' in British English, where 'turtle' refers specifically to sea-dwelling species.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.