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Definition of snapping turtle
snapping turtle
Plural:snapping turtles
snapping turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A large, robust freshwater turtle belonging to the family Chelydridae, native primarily to the Americas, characterized by a large head, strong hooked jaws, aggressive behavior when out of the water, and a long, thick tail.
Example
"The biologist carefully relocated the massive snapping turtle that had wandered out of the wetlands and onto the busy suburban road."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in American English in the late 18th century, named for the turtle's notable defensive behavior of rapidly and aggressively snapping its powerful, beak-like jaws when threatened.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Snapping turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/snapping turtle