desert tortoise

noun

: a large burrowing land tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) of arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and adjacent Mexico

Examples of desert tortoise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Their community sprang into action when Bo, their 8-pound pet desert tortoise, escaped his backyard enclosure. —

Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024 The area is home to the dwindling desert tortoise and an endangered plant called the Lane Mountain milk-vetch. —

Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Facts about the desert tortoise, prickly pear cacti and more lie waiting amid pages of arguments on ballot propositions. —

Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 7 Oct. 2024 Federal regulators put the road on hold for environmental review — the area is home to the endangered desert tortoise — prompting state officials to draw lot lines for housing developments in Zone 6. —

Axios Salt Lake City, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for desert tortoise

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desert tortoise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of desert tortoise was in 1933

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Desert tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert%20tortoise. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation