Turf usually means a layer of grass-coveredhaving grass growing across the surface ground. It can also be a verb meaning to cover ground with turf. In other uses, it can mean an area of influencethe power to affect decisions, opinions, or actions or a gang’s claimed territoryan area a group claims or controls as its own.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /tɜrf/
Easy pronunciation: TURF (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress falls on the only syllable.
Noun meaning grass-covered ground held together by roots.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Turf Meaning
grass-covered ground held together by roots
Part of speech: noun
Definition: surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
Example: The lawn was laid with fresh turf.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- greensward — A literary synonym for grass-covered ground.
- sod — Common synonym for a piece or layer of grass-covered ground.
- sward — A more formal word for grass-covered ground.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Turf
Meaning 2
to put turf on the ground
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cover (the ground) with a surface layer of grass or grass roots
Example: They turfed the new garden path last week.
Meaning 3
an area someone or a group controls or influences
Part of speech: noun
Definition: range of jurisdiction or influence
Example: The two departments are fighting over their turf.
Meaning 4
a gang’s claimed area
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the territory claimed by a juvenile gang as its own
Example: Police were called after a fight over gang turf.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Turf Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- greensward
- sod
- sward
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse turf with dirt or soil, but turf specifically means grass and the roots beneath it.
- Do not mix the grass-covered-ground meaning with the slang meaning for territory or influence.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does turf mean in simple English?
Turf usually means grass-covered ground with the roots still attached. It can also mean to cover ground with turf, or informally to describe an area someone controls.
What are the best synonyms for turf?
For the grass-covered-ground meaning, the best synonyms are greensward, sod, and sward. The other meanings do not have strong direct synonyms in the supplied data.
Is turf the same as grass?
Not exactly. Grass is the plant itself, while turf is the grass together with the root layer and the ground it forms.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.