giant tortoise

noun

: any of various large long-lived herbivorous land tortoises (genus Geochelone) formerly common on the islands of the western Indian Ocean and on the Galápagos Islands

Examples of giant tortoise in a Sentence

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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.
But a few times in recent years, Hollins, a veterinarian, tricked Jonathan and slid a cotton swab into the giant tortoise's mouth to get a saliva sample. — Kyle Melnick The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 But a few times in recent years, Hollins, a veterinarian, tricked Jonathan and slid a cotton swab into the giant tortoise’s mouth to get a saliva sample. — Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2026 As many as 183,000 giant tortoises thrive in the Seychelles, a new survey has found. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026 Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise on the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena, appears fully grown in a photograph researchers say was taken around 1882. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for giant tortoise

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of giant tortoise was circa 1909

Rhymes for giant tortoise

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Browse Nearby Words

giant toad
giant tortoise
giant water bug
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Cite this Entry

“Giant tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giant%20tortoise. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

giant tortoise

noun
: any of various large plant-eating tortoises of the Galapagos Islands and islands of the western Indian Ocean
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