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Definition of loggerhead turtle
loggerhead turtle
Plural:loggerhead turtles
loggerhead turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, carnivorous marine turtle (Caretta caretta) characterized by a massive head, powerful jaws, and a reddish-brown carapace, widely distributed across tropical, subtropical, and temperate oceans globally.
Example
"Conservationists established protected zones along the coast to safeguard the fragile nesting sites of the endangered loggerhead turtle."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name stems from 'loggerhead' (originating in the late 16th century meaning a stupid person or blockhead, from 'logger' meaning a heavy block of wood + 'head'). The turtle was named in the 17th century due to its proportionately massive head relative to its body size.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Loggerhead turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/loggerhead turtle