DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Turf n.; pl. Turfs Obs. Turves
1. That upper stratum of earth and vegetable mold which is filled with the roots of grass and other small plants, so as to adhere and form a kind of mat; sward; sod.
At his head a grass-green turf. --Shak.
The Greek historian sets her in the field on a high heap of turves. --Milton.
2. Peat, especially when prepared for fuel. See Peat.
3. Race course; horse racing; -- preceded by the. “We . . . claim the honors of the turf.”
Note: ☞ Turf is often used adjectively, or to form compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, turf ashes, turf cutter or turf-cutter, turf pit or turf-pit, turf-built, turf-clad, turf-covered, etc.
Turf ant Zool., a small European ant (Formica flava) which makes small ant-hills on heaths and commons.
Turf drain, a drain made with turf or peat.
Turf hedge, a hedge or fence formed with turf and plants of different kinds.
Turf house, a house or shed formed of turf, common in the northern parts of Europe.
Turf moss a tract of turfy, mossy, or boggy land.
Turf spade, a spade for cutting and digging turf, longer and narrower than the common spade.
turf
n 1: surface layer of ground containing a matt of grass and grass
roots [syn: sod, sward, greensward]
2: the territory claimed by a juvenile gang as its own
3: range of jurisdiction or influence; "a bureaucracy...chiefly
concerned with turf...and protecting the retirement
system"
v : cover (the ground) with a surface layer of grass or grass
roots
[also: turves (pl)]