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giant tortoise
noun
: any of various large long-lived herbivorous land tortoises (genus Geochelone) formerly common on the islands of the western Indian Ocean and on the Galápagos Islands
Examples of giant tortoise in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The octopus, the elephant, the great horned owl, the house cat, the giant tortoise, the chimpanzee: who, in all the vast animal kingdom, joins us in having intimations of mortality?
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
In 2019, scientists found on the island a giant tortoise not seen in more than a century and had been feared extinct.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
Imagine snorkeling with playful sea lions, walking alongside giant tortoises, and watching the famous blue-footed boobies dance right in front of you or the waved albatross performing their (goofy-looking) mating ritual.
—Josh Rivera, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
On the Galápagos Islands, giant tortoises and iguanas rely on cacti as a primary food source.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1909, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of giant tortoise was
circa 1909
Dictionary Entries Near giant tortoise
Cite this Entry
“Giant tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giant%20tortoise. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
giant tortoise
noun
: any of various large plant-eating tortoises of the Galapagos Islands and islands of the western Indian Ocean
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