noun
chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly
• Syn: ↑box turtle
• Hypernyms: ↑turtle
• Hyponyms: ↑Western box turtle, ↑Terrapene ornata
• Member Holonyms: ↑Terrapene, ↑genus Terrapene
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noun or box turtle : any of three No. American land tortoises (genus Terrapene syn. Cistudo) that can withdraw entirely within the shell and close it by hinged joints in the lower shell
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box turtle or box tortoise,
any one of several species of American land turtles, which can withdraw entirely within their shells and close them by hinges in the lower halves.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.