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Definition of common snapping turtle
common snapping turtle
Plural:common snapping turtles
common snapping turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A large, aggressive freshwater turtle native to North America, characterized by a bulky head, powerful beak-like jaws, a highly ridged carapace, and a long, saw-toothed tail.
Example
"While kayaking on the quiet lake, the researchers spotted a large common snapping turtle resting on a submerged log."
• Nearby Words
common lilac
common persimmon
common raven
common snapping turtle
common tree snake
common wall lizard
common wombat
Word Origin & Etymology
The name reflects its widespread distribution across North America and its characteristic defensive behavior of quickly biting or 'snapping' with its powerful, beak-like jaws when threatened on land.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Common snapping turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/common snapping turtle