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| turn [ turn ] |
verb (past and past participle turned, present participle turn·ing, 3rd person present singular turns) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb move to face different direction: to move to face in a different direction or toward a particular location, or move something so that it does this
  She turned to see what was happening.
turning his eyes skyward
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2. transitive and intransitive verb move around axis: to move around an axis or point in a particular direction, or move something in this way
Turn the handle to the left.
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3. transitive verb use control to operate something: to control something such as a machine or an appliance or some aspect of its performance by moving a knob, switch, or slider to a different setting
Turn the heat to high.
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4. transitive and intransitive verb change direction of vehicle: to go in a different direction when moving or traveling, or make a vehicle change direction
Turn left at the crossroads.
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5. transitive verb go around something: to change direction and go around something
to turn a corner
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6. intransitive verb follow different course: to change direction and follow a different course
The path turns uphill.
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7. transitive and intransitive verb move page over: to move a page so that the other side, or another page, can be read or looked at
turned the pages
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8. transitive and intransitive verb change: to change or be transformed into somebody or something different, or change or transform somebody or something into somebody or something different
turned into a butterfly
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9. transitive and intransitive verb change color: to change color, or cause something to change color
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10. transitive and intransitive verb alter focus of something: to direct the focus of something toward something else, or be focused on something
Her thoughts turned to the past.
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11. intransitive verb start doing something different: to start doing something new or different, especially as a way of solving a problem or improving a situation
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12. intransitive verb consult somebody: to seek or appeal for help from somebody
He turned to his mother for advice.
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13. intransitive verb change in weather: to change to become a different temperature or type of weather
It's turned cold again.
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14. transitive and intransitive verb make somebody feel slightly sick: to be sufficiently unpleasant or upsetting to make somebody feel nauseated, or respond with feelings of nausea
violence that turned my stomach
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15. transitive verb gymnastics perform cartwheel: to rotate the body to perform a physical action such as a cartwheel or somersault
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16. transitive verb twist ankle: to injure the ankle or wrist by twisting or spraining it
She turned her ankle getting off the bus.
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17. transitive verb search something extensively: to search a place extremely thoroughly
They turned the house upside down looking for the ticket.
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18. transitive verb pass time or age: to pass a particular age, time, or speed
She's just turned sixty.
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19. intransitive verb become sour: to become sour
(
refers to milk
)
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20. transitive verb put something into condition or place: to cause or allow somebody or something to be in a particular condition or place
The sight turned my blood cold.
He opened the gate and turned the horses loose.
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21. intransitive verb start to ebb or flow: to reach high tide and start to ebb, or reach low tide and start to rise
The tide has turned.
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22. transitive verb woodwork metallurgy shape something on lathe: to shape or cut something on a lathe
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23. transitive verb form something into round shape: to shape clay or a pot into a rounded form with the hands or with tools
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24. transitive verb earn money: to earn or achieve a monetary gain
The business should turn a profit in this financial year.
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25. transitive and intransitive verb change allegiance: to cause a change in somebody's allegiance, or undergo a change of allegiance
a diplomat who turned spy
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26. intransitive verb convert: to convert to a religion
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27. transitive verb say or write something well: to give a distinctive or pleasing form to something said or written
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28. transitive verb gardening agriculture dig up lower levels of soil: to dig soil so as to bring lower layers up to the surface
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29. transitive verb military pass around enemy: to pass around an enemy in order to attack from the flank or rear
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noun (plural turns) |
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| Definition: |
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1. opportunity: a time when somebody gets an opportunity to do something or somebody is asked to do something, especially when this is rotated among other people
It's your turn to clean up.
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2. change of direction: a change of direction in something such as a road or the plot of a book
Slow down for the turn in the road ahead.
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3. junction: a fork or corner at which a road or path divides
the third turn on the left
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4. movement of rotation: a full or partial rotation
Give the screw a few more turns.
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5. winding: a winding of something such as wire around something else
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6. particular inclination: a particular inclination or tendency
an academic turn of mind
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7. sudden scare: a sudden shock or scare
It gave me quite a turn.
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8. spell of illness: a short period of feeling unwell or faint
She had a nasty turn, but she's OK now.
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9. end of time period: the point at which one period of time ends and another begins
at the turn of the century
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10. good or bad deed: a deed that helps or harms another person
a good turn
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11. short outing: a short walk, excursion, or dance
(
dated
)
They took a turn around the park.
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12. music melodic embellishment: a melodic embellishment that is played around a given note, using one note above and one note below the principal note
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13. theater individual theatrical performance: a short theatrical solo performance, e.g. in a cabaret
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14. stock exchange stock market transaction: a stock market transaction that includes both a sale and a purchase
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15. military advance passing around enemy: a military advance that passes around an enemy in order to attack from the flank or rear
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16. Southern U.S. quantity of grain: the quantity of grain transported to a mill in one delivery
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17. Canada quantity of firewood: the amount of firewood carried into a house at one time
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| [Pre-12th century. < Latin tornare "turn on a lathe" < tornus "lathe" < Greek tornos] |
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| turn·able adjective |
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at every turn everywhere, or at every significant moment
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a turn of phrase a particular way of expressing yourself
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a turn of speed the ability to move fast for a short period or the act of doing so
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by turns one after the other, alternately
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in turn in a regular order, one after the other
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on the turn
1. on the point of going sour
2. on the point of changing
3. at high or low tide and just about to ebb or return
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out of turn
1. not in a regular or correct order
2. in an inappropriate way, or at an inappropriate time
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take a turn for the better or worse to start to get better or worse, often suddenly or unexpectedly
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to a turn perfectly
meat cooked to a turn
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turn of phrase a particular way of expressing yourself
a memorable turn of phrase
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