Illustration of box turtle
box turtle
noun
1
: any of several North American land turtles (genus Terrapene) capable of withdrawing into their shell and closing it by hinged joints in the lower half
called also box tortoise
2
: any of several chiefly semiaquatic, Asian turtles (genera Cuora and Pyxidea of the family Geoemydidae) that have a carapace with a median keel and are capable of withdrawing into their shell and closing it by hinged joints in the plastron
Note: The Asian box turtles are not closely related to the North American box turtles.
Examples of box turtle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ng pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of unlawfully attempting to export and send 29 eastern box turtles out of the United States, contrary to law.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 12 Oct. 2024
The agents searched her heavy duffle bag and found 29 live eastern box turtles individually wrapped in socks, the affidavit states.
—CBS News, 12 Oct. 2024
Eastern box turtles are known to be sold on the Chinese black market for $1,000 each, the affidavit stated.
—CBS News, 12 Oct. 2024
This can include snakes, salamanders, box turtles, toads and rodents.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for box turtle 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 12 Oct. 2024
The agents searched her heavy duffle bag and found 29 live eastern box turtles individually wrapped in socks, the affidavit states.
—CBS News, 12 Oct. 2024
Eastern box turtles are known to be sold on the Chinese black market for $1,000 each, the affidavit stated.
—CBS News, 12 Oct. 2024
This can include snakes, salamanders, box turtles, toads and rodents.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for box turtle
Dictionary Entries Near box turtle
Cite this Entry
“Box turtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box%20turtle. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share