turkey
turkey Lexical Profile
turkey Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large, primarily North American bird (genus Meleagris) featuring a bare, fleshy head and wattle, widely domesticated and raised globally for its meat.
"We roasted a large turkey with herb stuffing for our traditional holiday dinner."
A transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe, serving as a historic bridge between the continents.
"During their Mediterranean cruise, they spent three days exploring the historic coastal cities of Turkey."
A complete failure or flop, especially referring to a highly unsuccessful theatrical production, film, or business venture.
"Despite its massive budget and star-studded cast, the summer blockbuster turned out to be a box-office turkey."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the transcontinental nation, 'Turkey' is properly capitalized (recently recognized officially as 'Türkiye' in international contexts); the lowercase 'turkey' refers to the bird or its meat.
• Rhymes for turkey
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The bird was named 'turkey fowl' in the 1540s because European contemporaries incorrectly identified the North American bird with the African guinea fowl, which was imported to Europe by 'Turkey merchants' (traders operating through the Ottoman Empire).