Tortoise

/ˈtɔːtəʊs/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A slow-moving land reptile of the family Testudinidae, characterized by a bony shell, which protects its body.

The tortoise slowly made its way across the sunlit pathway.

A person who is slow or deliberate in action or movement.

Despite his friends being quick to make decisions, he was always the tortoise, taking his time to think things through.

A term used to describe a type of defensive strategy in games or competitions, particularly in chess.

She adopted a tortoise approach in the chess game, prioritizing defense over aggression.

Middle English tortoise, from Old French tortue, from Latin testudo.

slow as a tortoise

Refers to someone who moves very slowly.

tortoise and hare

A reference to a fable about slow but steady winning against haste.

turtle

A water-dwelling reptile with a similar shell structure.

reptile

A class of animals that includes tortoises, snakes, and lizards.

A person who is very slow in their actions.

He's such a tortoise when it comes to finishing projects.

Used to describe a vehicle or machine that is very slow.

That old car is a real tortoise on the highway!