snapping turtle

noun

: 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 in a double row on the underside of the tail, and is distributed from eastern Canada to Central America

b

: alligator snapping turtle

Illustration of snapping turtle

• snapping turtle a

Examples of snapping turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And although Virginia hasn’t ever maintained records for giant snapping turtles, Marshall still wanted someone with the state to come look at it. —Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2024

His age is unknown, but snapping turtles can live up to 70 years, per DWR. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024

The camp begins in a swimming pool—still concrete—and then moves on to a swamp, with snapping turtles and slow-moving water, before concluding with some real rapids on a local river. —Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024

If concerned residents call, WINC is able to determine the best course of action and talk callers through the process of bringing an animal into the center, re-nesting a baby animal, reuniting an animal family or just helping a snapping turtle cross the road. —Angelika Ytuarte, Journal Sentinel, 22 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

snapping turtle

noun

: either of two large American freshwater turtles that have a large head, powerful jaws, and a long tail