TURF meaning: 1. the surface layer of land on which grass is growing, consisting of the grass and the soil in…. Learn more. Turf can mean short grass, a piece of grass, a territory, or a type of fuel. Learn the different meanings, synonyms, and examples of turf in British and American English. Turf can mean the surface layer of grass and soil, the sport of horse racing, or the area that someone controls or influences. Learn how to use turf in different contexts with examples and synonyms. The meaning of TURF is the upper stratum of soil bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat; also : a piece of this. How to use turf in a sentence.