turn

Syllabification: (turn)

Pronunciation: /tərn/

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Definition of turn

verb

1move or cause to move in a circular direction wholly or partly around an axis or point: [no object]:the big wheel was turning [with object]:I turned the key in the door and crept in
[with object] move (something) so that it is in a different position in relation to its surroundings or its previous position:we waited in suspense for him to turn the cards over
[with object] move (a page) over so that it is flat against the previous or next page:she turned a page noisily [no object]:turn to page five for the answer
change or cause to change direction: [no object]:we turned around and headed back to the house
[with object] aim, point, or direct (something):she turned her head toward me the government has now turned its attention to primary schools
[no object] change the position of one’s body so that one is facing in a different direction:Charlie turned and looked at his friend
[no object] (of the tide) change from flood to ebb or vice versa.
[with object] pass around (the flank or defensive lines of an army) so as to attack it from the side or rear.
[with object] perform (a somersault or cartwheel).
[with object] twist or sprain (an ankle).
[with object] fold or unfold (fabric or a piece of a garment) in the specified way:he turned up the collar of his coat
[with object] remake (a garment or a sheet), putting the worn outer side on the inside.
[with object] (usually as adjective turned) Printing set or print (a type or letter) upside down.
[with object] archaic bend back (the edge of a blade) so as to make it blunt.

2 [no object] change in nature, state, form, or color; become:Emmeline turned pale
[with object or adverbial] cause to change; cause to become:potatoes are covered with sacking to keep the light from turning them green
(of leaves) change color in the autumn.
[with object] pass the age or time of:I’ve just turned forty
(with reference to milk) make or become sour: [with object]:the thunder had turned the milk
(with reference to the stomach) make or become nauseated: [with object]:the smell was bad enough to turn the strongest stomach
[with object or adverbial] send or put into a specified place or condition:the dogs were turned loose on the crowd

3 [no object] (turn to) start doing or becoming involved with:in 1939 he turned to films in earnest
go on to consider next:we can now turn to another aspect of the problem
go to for help, advice, or information:who can she turn to?
have recourse to (something, especially something dangerous or unhealthy):he turned to drink and drugs for solace

4 [with object] shape (something) on a lathe:the faceplate is turned rather than cast
give a graceful or elegant form to: (as adjective with submodifier turned)a production full of so many finely turned words
make (a profit).

noun

1an act of moving something in a circular direction around an axis or point:a safety lock requiring four turns of the key
a change of direction when moving:they made a left turn and picked up speed
a development or change in circumstances or a course of events:life has taken a turn for the better
a time when one specified period of time ends and another begins:the turn of the century
a bend or curve in a road, path, river, etc.:the twists and turns in the passageways
a place where a road meets or branches off another.
(the turn) the beginning of the second nine holes of a round of golf:he made the turn in one under par
a change of the tide from ebb to flow or vice versa.
one round in a coil of rope or other material.

2an opportunity or obligation to do something that comes successively to each of a number of people:it was his turn to speak
a short performance, especially one of a number given by different performers in succession:a comic turn
a performer giving one of a number of short performances.

3a short walk or ride:why don’t you take a turn around the garden?

4 informal a shock:you gave us quite a turn!
a brief feeling or experience of illness:tell me how you feel when you have these funny turns

5the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products.
a profit made from the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products.

6 Music a melodic ornament consisting of the principal note with those above and below it.

Phrases

at every turn: on every occasion; continually:her name seemed to come up at every turn
by turns: one after the other; alternately:he was by turns amused and mildly annoyed by her
do someone a good (or bad) turn: do something that is helpful (or unhelpful) for someone.
in turn: in succession; one after the other:four men prayed in turn; (also in one's/its turn) used to convey that an action, process, or situation is the result or product of a previous one:he would shout until she, in her turn, lost her temper
not know which way (or where) to turn: not know what to do; be completely at a loss.
not turn a hair: see hair.
one good turn deserves another: proverb if someone does you a favor, you should take the chance to repay it.
on the turn: at a turning point; in a state of change:my luck is on the turn
out of turn: at a time when it is not one’s turn.
speak (or talk) out of turn: speak in a tactless or foolish way.
take turns: (of two or more people) do something alternately or in succession.
to a turn: to exactly the right degree (used especially in relation to cooking):hamburgers done to a turn
turn and turn about: chiefly British one after another; in succession:the two men were working in rotation, turn and turn about
turn one's back on: see back.
turn the corner: pass the critical point and start to improve.
turn a deaf ear: see deaf.
turn one's hand to something: see hand.
turn one's head: see head.
turn heads: see head.
turn an honest penny: see honest.
turn in one's grave: see grave¹.
turn of mind: a particular way of thinking:people with a practical turn of mind
turn of speed: the ability to go fast when necessary.
turn on one's heel: see heel¹.
turn the other cheek: see cheek.
turn over a new leaf: start to act or behave in a better or more responsible way.
turn something over in one's mind: think about or consider something thoroughly.
turn around and do (or say) something: informal used to convey that someone’s actions or words are perceived as unexpected, unwelcome, or confrontational:then she just turned around and said she wasn’t coming after all
turn the tables: see table.
turn tail: informal turn around and run away.
turn the tide: see tide.
turn something to (good) account: see account.
turn a trick: see trick.
turn turtle: see turtle.
turn up one's nose at: see nose.

Phrasal Verbs

turn against (or turn someone against): become (or cause someone to become) hostile toward:public opinion turned against him
turn around: move so as to face in the opposite direction:Alice turned around and walked down the corridor
turn something around
turn someone away: refuse to allow someone to enter or pass through a place.
turn back (or turn someone/something back): go (or cause to go) back in the direction in which one has come:they turned back before reaching the church
turn someone down: reject an offer or application made by someone:the Air Force turned him down on medical grounds
turn something down
turn in: informal go to bed in the evening.
turn someone in: hand someone over to the authorities.
turn something in: give something to someone in authority:I’ve turned in my resignation; produce or achieve a particular score or a performance of a specified quality.
turn into: become (a particular kind of thing or person); be transformed into:the slight drizzle turned into a downpour that dream turned into a nightmare in the next instant he turned into a tiny mouse
turn someone/something into: cause to become (a particular kind of thing or person); transform into:the town was turned into a thriving seaside destination every single good children’s book has been turned into a feature-length cartoon
turn off: leave one road in order to join another.
turn someone off: informal induce a feeling of boredom or disgust in someone.
turn something off: stop the operation or flow of something by means of a valve, switch, or button:remember to turn off the gas; operate a valve or switch in order to do this.
turn on
turn someone on: informal excite or stimulate the interest of someone, especially sexually.
turn something on: start the flow or operation of something by means of a valve, switch, or button:she turned on the TV; operate a valve or switch in order to do this.
turn someone on to: informal cause someone to become interested or involved in (something, especially drugs):he turned her on to heroin
turn out
turn someone out
turn something out
turn over: (of an engine) start or continue to run properly.
turn someone over to: deliver someone to the care or custody of (another person or body, especially one in authority):they turned him over to the police
turn something over
turn up
turn something up

Origin:

Old English tyrnan, turnian (verb), from Latin tornare, from tornus 'lathe', from Greek tornos 'lathe, circular movement'; probably reinforced in Middle English by Old French turner. The noun (Middle English) is partly from Anglo-Norman French tourn, partly from the verb

turn in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of turn in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

verb

noun

Phrases

at every turn

by turns

do someone a good (or bad) turn

in turn

not know which way (or where) to turn

not turn a hair

one good turn deserves another

on the turn

out of turn

speak (or talk) out of turn

take turns

to a turn

turn and turn about

turn one's back on

turn the corner

turn a deaf ear

turn one's hand to something

turn one's head

turn heads

turn an honest penny

turn in one's grave

turn of mind

turn of speed

turn on one's heel

turn the other cheek

turn over a new leaf

turn something over in one's mind

turn around and do (or say) something

turn the tables

turn tail

turn the tide

turn something to (good) account

turn a trick

turn turtle

turn up one's nose at

Phrasal Verbs

turn against (or turn someone against)

turn around

turn something around

turn someone away

turn back (or turn someone/something back)

turn someone down

turn something down

turn in

turn someone in

turn something in

turn into

turn someone/something into

turn off

turn someone off

turn something off

turn on

turn someone on

turn something on

turn someone on to

turn out

turn someone out

turn something out

turn over

turn someone over to

turn something over

turn up

turn something up

Origin:

turn in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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