noun Download 🔗Share Any of various land-dwelling reptiles, of the family Testudinidae or the order Testudines , whose body is enclosed in a shell (carapace plus plastron). The animal can withdraw its head and four legs partially into the shell, providing some protection from predators. Examples : "The zoo had a special exhibit featuring different species of tortoises, including some that were over a hundred years old. " animal biology nature organism Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading