snapping turtle — ☆ snapping turtle n. any of a family (Chelydridae) of large freshwater turtles of North America, with a small shell and powerful jaws which snap with great force, esp., a common species (Chelydra serpentina) … English World dictionary
snapping turtle — either of two large, edible, freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae, of North and Central America, having a large head and powerful hooked jaws, esp. the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina. Cf. alligator snapping turtle. [1775 85,… … Universalium
snapping turtle — noun large aggressive freshwater turtle with powerful jaws • Hypernyms: ↑turtle • Hyponyms: ↑common snapping turtle, ↑snapper, ↑Chelydra serpentina, ↑alligator snapping turtle, ↑alligator snapper, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
snapping turtle — UK [ˌsnæpɪŋ ˈtɜː(r)t(ə)l] / US [ˌsnæpɪŋ ˈtɜrt(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms snapping turtle : singular snapping turtle plural snapping turtles a small animal with powerful jaws and a hard shell covering its back that lives in lakes in Northern … English dictionary
snapping turtle — noun Date: 1784 either of two large American freshwater turtles (family Chelydridae) with a large head, powerful jaws, a long tail, and a strong musky odor: a. one (Chelydra serpentina) that has the head covered with smooth skin, has large plates … New Collegiate Dictionary
snapping-turtle — noun A variant form of snapping turtle … Wiktionary
snapping turtle — snap′ping tur tle n. ram either of two large freshwater American turtles of the family Chelydridae, having a massive nonretracting head and powerful jaws: Chelydra serpentina, of warm muddy shallows, and the larger Macroclemys temmincki… … From formal English to slang
snapping-turtle — snappˈing turtle noun A large aggressive American freshwater turtle • • • Main Entry: ↑snap … Useful english dictionary
snapping turtle — noun a large American freshwater turtle with strong hooked jaws. [Chelydra serpentina and Macroclemys temminckii (the alligator snapper).] … English new terms dictionary
snapping turtle — /snæpɪŋ ˈtɜtl/ (say snaping tertl) noun a large and savage turtle, Chelydra serpentina, of American rivers, having powerful jaws with which it lunges and snaps at an enemy …
