turnstone

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈtɜːnˌstəʊn/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(tûrn′stōn′)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
turn•stone  (tûrn′stōn′),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Birdsany shorebird of the genus Arenaria, characterized by the habit of turning over stones in search of food.
  2. Birds[Brit.]See ruddy turnstone. 
  • turn + stone 1665–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
turnstone /ˈtɜːnˌstəʊn/ n
  1. either of two shore birds of the genus Arenaria, esp A. interpres (ruddy turnstone). They are related and similar to plovers and sandpipers
Etymology: 17th Century: so called because it turns over stones in search of food
'turnstone' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
ruddy turnstone - shorebird

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