I. ˈtər]f, ˈtə̄], ˈtəi] noun
( plural turfs ]fs ; or turves ]vz\)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German zurba turf, Old Norse torf, Sanskrit darbha tuft of grass
1. : a piece cut or pared off from the upper stratum of earth with its green growth preserved
turves of native grasses are placed on the fronts of terraces — New Zealand Journal of Agric.
2. : the upper stratum of earth and vegetable mold that is filled with the roots of grass and other small plants forming a thick mat
a glade of turf at the end of which he could see the beginning of a formal garden — John Buchan
3.
a. : a slab of peat especially when used or ready for fuel
lit his pipe from a red turf — Padraic Fallon
b. : peat
an Irish bog … from which turf has been or can be cut — John Godley
4.
a. : a track or course for horse racing
b. : the sport or business of horse racing
5. slang : a territory held by a gang to be under its control
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from turf (I)
1. : of or relating to turf : made of turf
2. : of or relating to the sport of horse racing
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English turven, from turf (I)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cover with turf
b. : to lay under the turf : bury
2. : to dig for turf : take turf from
3. chiefly Britain : to eject forcefully : kick , throw — usually used with out
going to turf out those corny souvenirs of yours — Earle Birney
a dog must be turfed out of the chair — Joanna Cannan
intransitive verb
: to gather turfs
IV. noun
1. : an artificial substitute for natural turf (as on a playing field)
2. : territory 2a(1) b ; also : a sphere of activity or influence
people who could hurt him on his own foreign-policy turf — Wall Street Journal