Definition of "box turtle" []

• Any of several North American land turtles of the genus Terrapene having a hinged plastron that pulls up against the carapace, allowing the animal to become completely encased within its shell. Also called box tortoise. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.