turkey
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for turkey, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A large North American bird with a fan-shaped tail, farmed for its meat.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use turkey
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
Originally applied to the guinea fowl, an African bird imported to Europe through Turkey; the name later transferred to the unrelated North American bird now called turkey.
Full origin of turkey →Frequently asked questions
What does “turkey” mean?
The word “turkey” means a large North American bird with a fan-shaped tail, farmed for its meat. In plain terms, the big bird served at Thanksgiving, but also slang for something that flops badly, or a run of three strikes in bowling.
How do you pronounce “turkey”?
“Turkey” is pronounced TUR-kee (/ˈtɝki/ in IPA).
How do you use “turkey” in a sentence?
Here is “turkey” used in a sentence: “They roasted a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.”
What part of speech is “turkey”?
“Turkey” is a noun.
Is “turkey” a common word?
“Turkey” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “turkey” have?
“Turkey” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large North American bird with a fan-shaped tail, farmed for its meat.
What is the difference between a turkey and a chicken?
Both are farmed birds, but a turkey is much larger, with darker meat, a fan-shaped tail, and the male's distinctive wattle and gobble. Chickens are smaller, more common year-round, and lay eggs regularly. Turkey is most associated with festive meals, while chicken is an everyday staple.
What are male and female turkeys called?
A male turkey is called a tom or gobbler, named for its loud gobbling call, and it displays the fanned tail and colourful head. A female is a hen, which is smaller and quieter. Baby turkeys are known as poults.
Why is turkey eaten at Thanksgiving and Christmas?
Turkey became the traditional festive centrepiece partly because the bird is native to North America and large enough to feed a gathered family. The custom grew around American Thanksgiving and spread to Christmas tables in Britain and beyond, where a roast turkey now signals the holiday meal.
Is a wild turkey the same as a farmed turkey?
They are the same species, but differ in practice. Wild turkeys are lean and fast and can fly short distances, roosting in trees. Farmed turkeys are bred to grow larger and heavier, especially in the breast, which usually leaves them unable to fly.