noun

tortoise

tortoise

The tortoise walks very slowly.

The tortoise walks very slowly.

A tortoise can live for a very long time.

A tortoise can live for a very long time.

((a/the)) tortoise a slow-moving reptile with a shell The tortoise walks very slowly.

Synonyms: terrapin; Antonyms: hare (in the context of the fable)

From Old French 'tortue', from Late Latin 'tartarucha', possibly from Greek 'tartaroukhos' (inhabitant of Tartarus), as tortoises were believed to come from the underworld.

Think of the famous story 'The Tortoise and the Hare' to remember its slow but steady nature.

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