noun
Uncommon
turf
turf
Turf (noun) means Grass-covered ground, or a section of it cut as sod. Example: “They laid fresh turf across the new football pitch.”
noun
1
Grass-covered ground, or a section of it cut as sod.
"They laid fresh turf across the new football pitch."
"The cricket club rolled out new turf in front of the pavilion."
"He cut a square of turf and used it to patch the lawn."
2
A territory or area that someone considers their own to control.
"The two gangs fought over turf on the east side of town."
"She felt like the new manager was encroaching on her turf."
"The shopkeeper told the street vendors to stay off his turf."
verb
1
Informally, to dismiss someone from a job, or reject something entirely.
"He got turfed out after missing three deadlines in a row."
"The committee turfed the proposal out without even reading it."
"If you keep arriving late, the boss will turf you out."
How to use turf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGrassy ground, but also a common way to describe a person's territory, area of control, or expertise.
Common pairings
home turf
turf war
artificial turf
turf out
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like turf.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- turfs, turves
- Third person singular
- turfs
- Past tense
- turfed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They laid fresh _____ across the new football pitch.
Etymology
From Old English turf, meaning "sod" or "grass-covered earth," a very old Germanic word.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for turf
See all rhymes for turf →Frequently asked questions
What does “turf” mean?
The word “turf” means grass-covered ground, or a section of it cut as sod. In plain terms, grassy ground, but also a common way to describe a person's territory, area of control, or expertise.
How do you pronounce “turf”?
“Turf” is pronounced turf (/tɝf/ in IPA).
How do you use “turf” in a sentence?
Here is “turf” used in a sentence: “They laid fresh turf across the new football pitch.”
What part of speech is “turf”?
Depending on how it is used, “turf” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “turf” come from?
The word “turf” comes from Old English. From Old English turf, meaning "sod" or "grass-covered earth," a very old Germanic word.
Is “turf” a common word?
“Turf” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “turf” have?
“Turf” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: grass-covered ground, or a section of it cut as sod.
What is the difference between "turf" and "grass"?
"Grass" refers to the plant itself, while "turf" refers to grass-covered ground, or a section of it cut as sod, emphasizing the ground surface rather than the individual plants. "Turf" is also used for artificial playing surfaces that imitate grass.
What does it mean to call something "someone's turf"?
It means the area or activity is territory that person considers their own to control, such as a neighborhood, business sector, or area of expertise. This sense extends the literal ground meaning into a figurative claim over territory or influence.
What does it mean to "turf someone" or "turf something out"?
Informally, to "turf" someone means to dismiss them from a job, and to "turf out" something means to reject or get rid of it entirely. Both uses are casual and common in British and Australian English.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include turf:
