turf Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
    sward; greensward; sod.
  2. noun the territory claimed by a juvenile gang as its own
  3. noun range of jurisdiction or influence
    • a bureaucracy...chiefly concerned with turf...and protecting the retirement system
  4. verb cover (the ground) with a surface layer of grass or grass roots

WordNet

Turf noun
Etymology
AS. turf; akin to D. turf peat, G. torf, OHG. zurba turf, Sw. & Icel. torf turf, peat, Dan. törv, Skr. darbha a kind of grass, a tuft of grass.
Wordforms
plural Turfs obsolete Turves
Definitions
  1. That upper stratum of earth and vegetable mold which is filled with the roots of grass and other small plants, so as to adhere and form a kind of mat; sward; sod.
    At his head a grass-green turf. Shak.
    The Greek historian sets her in the field on a high heap of turves. Milton.
  2. Peat, especially when prepared for fuel. See Peat.
  3. Race course; horse racing; -- preceded by the. "We . . . claim the honors of the turf." Cowper. ✍ Turf is often used adjectively, or to form compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, turf ashes, turf cutter or turf-cutter, turf pit or turf-pit, turf-built, turf-clad, turf-covered, etc.
Turf transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Turfed ; present participle & verbal noun Turfing
Definitions
  1. To cover with turf or sod; as, to turf a bank, of the border of a terrace. A. Tucker.

Webster 1913