turkey
TUR-kee
Turkey (noun) means a large North American bird with a fan-shaped tail, farmed for its meat. Example: “They roasted a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.”
noun
1
A large North American bird with a fan-shaped tail, farmed for its meat.
"They roasted a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner."
"A wild turkey strutted across the path, spreading its tail feathers."
"The farmer keeps a flock of turkeys in the field behind the barn."
2
The meat of this bird eaten as food.
"He made a sandwich with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce."
"We had turkey with roast potatoes and gravy on Sunday."
"Would you like some more turkey, or would you prefer the beef?"
3
Informally, a failure or an inept person.
"The movie was such a turkey that it flopped in its opening weekend."
"That gadget turned out to be a real turkey and nobody wanted to buy it."
"The play was a turkey, and the audience left at the interval."
4
In bowling, three strikes thrown in a row.
"She scored a turkey in the final frame to win the match."
"He bowled a turkey in the second game and the crowd cheered."
"Getting a turkey takes both skill and a little luck."
How to use turkey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe big bird served at Thanksgiving, but also slang for something that flops badly, or a run of three strikes in bowling.
Common mistake
"Cold turkey" (quitting something abruptly) and "talk turkey" (speak frankly) are idioms unrelated to the literal bird.
Common pairings
roast turkey
cold turkey
talk turkey
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Word forms
- Plural
- turkeys, turkies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They roasted a _____ for Thanksgiving dinner.
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.
Related words
Rhymes for turkey
See all rhymes for 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.
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