Turtle vs. Terrapin — What's the Difference?

Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , also known as Chelonia . They are characterized by a bony or cartilaginous shell, developed from their ribs, that acts as a shield.

A terrapin is one of several small species of turtle living in fresh or brackish water. Terrapins do not form a taxonomic unit and may not be related.

Any of various aquatic or terrestrial egg-laying reptiles of the order Testudines (or Chelonia), having horny toothless jaws and a bony or leathery shell into which the head, limbs, and tail can be withdrawn in most species.

See diamondback terrapin.

Any of various members of this order that live in fresh or brackish water, in contrast to the terrestrial tortoises.

Chiefly British A turtle that lives in fresh or brackish water.

Chiefly British A sea turtle.

(countable) Any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae found throughout the world.

The flesh of certain turtles, used for food.

Any turtle.

A turtledove.

Any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water, especially the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).

A turtleneck.

The flesh of such a turtle used as food.

To hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation.

Any one of numerous species of tortoises living in fresh and brackish waters. Many of them are valued for food.

(Nautical) To capsize.

Any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water

Any land or marine reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body. See also tortoise.

A marine reptile of that order.

An Ancient Roman attack method, where the shields held by the soldiers hide them, not only left, right, front and back, but also from above.

(computing) A type of robot having a domed case (and so resembling the reptile), used in education, especially for making line drawings by means of a computer program.

(computing) An on-screen cursor that serves the same function as a turtle for drawing.

The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.

(comptheory) A small element towards the end of a list of items to be bubble sorted, and thus tending to take a long time to be swapped into its correct position. Compare rabbit.

(dance) A breakdancing move consisting of a float during which the dancer's weight shifts from one hand to the other, producing rotation or a circular "walk".

(television) A low stand for a lamp etc.

A turtle dove.

(intransitive) To flip over onto the back or top; to turn upside down.

(intransitive) To move along slowly.

(intransitive) To turn and swim upside down.

(intransitive) To hunt turtles, especially in the water.

To build up a large defense force and strike only occasionally, rather than going for an offensive strategy.

The turtledove.

Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian.

The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.

Any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs for swimming

Overturn accidentally;

Hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation