Tur·tle, n.
 1. Zool. Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian.
 Note: ☞ In the United States the land and fresh-water tortoises are also called turtles.
 2. Printing The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.
 Alligator turtle, Box turtle, etc. See under Alligator, Box, etc.
 green turtle Zool., a marine turtle of the genus Chelonia, having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of which (Chelonia Midas) inhabits the warm part of the Atlantic Ocean, and sometimes weighs eight hundred pounds or more; the other (Chelonia virgata) inhabits the Pacific Ocean. Both species are similar in habits and feed principally on seaweed and other marine plants, especially the turtle grass.
 Turtle cowrie Zool., a large, handsome cowrie (Cypraea testudinaria); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied resemblance to a tortoise in color and form.
 Turtle grass Bot., a marine plant (Thalassia testudinum) with grasslike leaves, common about the West Indies.
 Turtle shell, tortoise shell. See under Tortoise.

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 Box, n.; pl. Boxes
 1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes.
 2. The quantity that a box contain.
 3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or other place of public amusement.
    Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage.   --Dorset.
    The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges.   --Dryden.
 4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a poor box; a contribution box.
 Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks,
 Damning the poor, his tripple-bolted box.   --J. Warton.
 5. A small country house. “A shooting box.”
    Tight boxes neatly sashed.   --Cowper.
 6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box.
 7. Mach (a) An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing. (b) A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works; the bucket of a lifting pump.
 8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach.
 9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or gift. “A Christmas box.”
 10. Baseball The square in which the pitcher stands.
 11. Zool. A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue.
 Note: ☞ Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box lid, box maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying substantives; as money box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox.
 Box beam Arch., a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form of a long box.
 Box car Railroads, a freight car covered with a roof and inclosed on the sides to protect its contents.
 Box chronometer, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to preserve its proper position.
 Box coat, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy cape to carry off the rain.
 Box coupling, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other parts in machinery.
 Box crab Zool., a crab of the genus Calappa, which, when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box.
 Box drain Arch., a drain constructed with upright sides, and with flat top and bottom.
 Box girder Arch., a box beam.
 Box groove Metal Working, a closed groove between two rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another.  --R. W. Raymond.
 Box metal, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc.
 Box plait, a plait that doubles both to the right and the left.
 Box turtle or  Box tortoise Zool., a land tortoise or turtle of the genera Cistudo and Emys; -- so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person.  --Emerson.
 In a box, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in difficulty. (Colloq.)
 In the wrong box, out of one's place; out of one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.)  --Ridley (1554)


 box turtle
      n : chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be
          closed tightly [syn: box tortoise]