örtüsü

örtüsü is a Turkish noun meaning the outer layer, covering, or veil of something. It derives from örtü (cover) with the possessive suffix -sü, which yields the form that expresses “its covering” or, in context, the covering of a specific thing. The word is widely used in both literal and figurative senses.

In geography, geology, and environmental contexts, örtüsü denotes the layer that covers a surface. Common examples include kar örtüsü (snow cover), bitkisel örtü (vegetation cover), and toprak örtüsü (soil cover). In ecology and agronomy, it describes the ground cover that protects soil, moderates temperature and moisture, and reduces erosion. The term appears in discussions of ecosystems, land management, and landscape design as a way to refer to the protective or functional layer present above the substrate.

In everyday Turkish, örtüsü can describe a protective or decorative covering for objects, though more specific terms such as kapak (for a book or container lid) or örtü (the cover in a general sense) are also common. The possessive form is routinely used in phrases where a particular object’s covering is being described, such as the örtüsü of a rock, a plant, or a piece of equipment.

Etymology traces örtüsü to the verb örtmek (to cover), with the suffix -sü forming the possessive. The word is productive in compounds and remains common in scientific, agricultural, and everyday language. See also örtü, örtmek, kapak, toprak örtüsü, kar örtüsü.