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Definition of hawksbill sea turtle
hawksbill sea turtle
Plural:hawksbill sea turtles
hawksbill sea turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A critically endangered species of sea turtle found primarily in tropical coral reefs worldwide, distinguished by its narrow, pointed beak and a beautifully patterned shell traditionally exploited to make tortoiseshell items.
Example
"Marine biologists are working extensively to protect the nesting sites of the hawksbill sea turtle on the beaches of the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name refers to the turtle's distinctively narrow, pointed beak that resembles the bill of a hawk, combined with its classification as a marine-dwelling turtle.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hawksbill sea turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hawksbill sea turtle