From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishturfturf1 /tɜːf $ tɜːrf/ ●○○ noun (plural turfs or turves) /tɜːvz $ tɜːrvz/ 1 [uncountable] especially British EnglishDLGDN a surface that consists of soil with grass on top, or an artificial surface that looks like this soft green turf2 [countable] British EnglishDLG a square piece of turf cut out of the ground3 → the turf4 AREAHOME[uncountable] informal an area that you think of as being your own How vigorously will the local companies defend their turf?somebody’s own/home turf (=the place that someone comes from or lives in) We beat Canada on their home turf.turf war/battle (=a fight or argument over the areas or things you think belong to you) turf wars among government bureaucracies
Examples from the Corpus
turf• Call one of the men advertising turf for sale in the local paper.• Injuries are more common on artificial turf than on grass.• As the path flattened out to lead across the close turf to the house Leonora's feet slowed.• Meanwhile, the big construction companies are trying to grow by making inroads into turf traditionally held by medium-size builders.• People perceived me to be interested only in my own patch, my turf, my people.• Ten years ago the city was paralyzed by gang battles over turf.• Under any circumstances the track would be challenging, but intermittent rains have left the turf and red clay sodden and slick.• My most recent visit produced a sloughed skin threaded through the turf.• Almeida tumbled to the turf and was taken away by ambulance.• They are determined to defend their turf against any outsiders.turf war/battle• McKinsey denied it was engaging in a turf war over branding.• The press tends to exaggerate the disagreements, and is over-eager to look for administration turf wars.• His belief is that development corporations often get bogged down in turf wars with local councils.• The turf wars in San Francisco were really bad.• Consequently, two of the greatest moments in Chicago sports history turned into ugly turf battles.turfturf2 verb [transitive] DLGto cover an area of land with turf → turf somebody ↔ out→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
turf• They turfed him out as an 18-year-old before Cambridge gave him a lifeline trial.• In correct rural circles, having your lawn turfed is regarded in the same light as wearing made-up bow ties.• There can be few people in football who do not think Flashman should be turfed out of Barnet at the earliest opportunity.• The Kurds found themselves turfed out of their houses after three months.• Prior to the spread of retirement, workers were turfed out of their jobs on an individual basis across a range of different ages.• Sheep were turfed out of three nearby fields make temporary car parks.Origin turf Old English 