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Definition of ornate box turtle
ornate box turtle
Plural:ornate box turtles
ornate box turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A relatively small, terrestrial turtle (Terrapene ornata) native to the Great Plains of the United States, distinguished by its domed shell marked with distinct yellow, radiating lines.
Example
"During our hike through the prairie grass, we carefully stepped around an ornate box turtle as it foraged for insects."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name reflects its highly patterned, decorative shell ('ornate') and its hinged plastron that allows the animal to pull its head and limbs inside and close tightly like a 'box'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ornate box turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ornate box turtle