Definitions
01the bird
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a large bird with a bald head and a fan-shaped tail.
n. a large galliform bird of the genus Meleagris, native to North America.
“The farmer raised a flock of turkeys for the autumn market.”
“Wild turkeys are surprisingly agile flyers, unlike their domesticated counterparts which are bred primarily for size and meat production.”
02the meat
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun Cooking
n. the meat from a turkey, often served at big family meals.
n. the flesh of the turkey used as food, typically roasted whole.
“We had roast turkey and mashed potatoes for dinner.”
“Leftover turkey can be used in sandwiches, soups, or stews for several days after the holiday feast.”
03the country
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. a country located between Europe and Asia, now officially called Türkiye.
n. a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe.
“Many people visit Turkey to see the historic sites in Istanbul.”
“The Republic of Turkey officially requested that the international community use the name Türkiye to better represent its culture and values.”
Synonyms
04a foolish person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal · American English
n. a person who is silly, foolish, or makes mistakes.
n. a person who is considered inept, stupid, or foolish.
“Don't be such a turkey and just follow the instructions.”
“He felt like a total turkey after realizing he had been wearing his shirt inside out all afternoon.”
05a failure
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · American English
n. something that fails completely, like a bad movie or play.
n. a theatrical production, film, or commercial venture that is a complete failure.
“The new sci-fi movie was a real turkey and lost millions of dollars.”
“Despite a massive marketing budget and a star-studded cast, the play turned out to be a turkey and closed after only three nights.”
06bowling
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. three strikes in a row in a game of bowling.
n. the achievement of three consecutive strikes in a single game of ten-pin bowling.
“He was so excited when he finally bowled a turkey in the final frame.”
“Achieving a turkey early in the game gave her a significant points advantage over the other competitors.”
07faking illness
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Medicine Slang · Technical
n. a patient who pretends to be sick when they are actually fine.
n. a patient who feigns or exaggerates symptoms, often to obtain drugs or avoid work.
“The nurse suspected the man was a turkey just looking for a bed for the night.”
“In emergency room slang, a turkey is someone who presents with vague symptoms but has no underlying clinical pathology.”
Synonyms
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the meat as food; countable when referring to the individual birds or the country.
Pitfall
I am going to the Turkey
I am going to Turkey
Proper names of countries generally do not take the definite article 'the'.
Etymology
From Middle English Turkye, from Anglo-Norman Turkye, Medieval Latin Turcia, from Turcus (“Turk”), from Byzantine Greek Τοῦρκος (Toûrkos), from Classical Persian تُرْک (turk), from Middle Persian [script needed] (twlk' /turk/), from Old Turkic 𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰜 (t²ür²k̥).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR