English Dictionary

Definition of “turn”

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turn (tɜːnPronunciation for turn) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to move or cause to move around an axis  ⇒ a wheel turning to turn a knob 
  2. (sometimes foll by round) to change or cause to change positions by moving through an arc of a circle  ⇒ he turned the chair to face the light 
  3. to change or cause to change in course, direction, etc  ⇒ he turned left at the main road 
  4. (of soldiers, ships, etc) to alter the direction of advance by changing direction simultaneously or (of a commander) to cause the direction of advance to be altered simultaneously
  5. to go or pass to the other side of (a corner, etc)
  6. to assume or cause to assume a rounded, curved, or folded form  ⇒ the road turns here 
  7. to reverse or cause to reverse position
  8. (tr) to pass round (an enemy or enemy position) so as to attack it from the flank or rear  ⇒ the Germans turned the Maginot line 
  9. (tr) to perform or do by a rotating movement  ⇒ to turn a somersault 
  10. (tr) to shape or cut a thread in (a workpiece, esp one of metal, wood, or plastic) by rotating it on a lathe against a fixed cutting tool
  11. intr, foll by into or to to change or convert or be changed or converted  ⇒ the alchemists tried to turn base metals into gold 
  12. (foll by into) to change or cause to change in nature, character, etc  ⇒ the frog turned into a prince 
  13. (copula) to change so as to become  ⇒ he turned nasty when he heard the price 
  14. to cause (foliage, etc) to change colour or (of foliage, etc) to change colour  ⇒ frost turned the trees a vivid orange 
  15. to cause (milk, etc) to become rancid or sour or (of milk, etc) to become rancid or sour
  16. to change or cause to change in subject, trend, etc  ⇒ the conversation turned to fishing 
  17. to direct or apply or be directed or applied  ⇒ he turned his attention to the problem 
  18. (intr) to to appeal or apply (to) for help, advice, etc  ⇒ she was very frightened and didn't know where to turn 
  19. to reach, pass, or progress beyond in age, time, etc  ⇒ she has just turned twenty 
  20. (tr) to cause or allow to go  ⇒ to turn an animal loose 
  21. to affect or be affected with nausea  ⇒ the sight of the dead body turned his stomach 
  22. to affect or be affected with giddiness  ⇒ my head is turning 
  23. (tr) to affect the mental or emotional stability of (esp in the phrase turn (someone's) head)
  24. (tr) to release from a container  ⇒ she turned the fruit into a basin 
  25. (tr) to render into another language
  26. against or from to transfer or reverse or cause to transfer or reverse (one's loyalties, affections, etc)
  27. (tr) to cause (an enemy agent) to become a double agent working for one's own side  ⇒ the bureau turned some of the spies it had caught 
  28. (tr) to bring (soil) from lower layers to the surface
  29. to blunt (an edge) or (of an edge) to become blunted
  30. (tr) to give a graceful form to  ⇒ to turn a compliment 
  31. (tr) to reverse (a cuff, collar, etc) in order to hide the outer worn side
  32. (intr) US to be merchandised as specified  ⇒ shirts are turning well this week 
  33. cricket to spin (the ball) or (of the ball) to spin
  34. See turn one's hand to
  35. See turn tail
  36. See turn the tables on someone
  37. See turn the tide

noun

  1. an act or instance of turning or the state of being turned or the material turned  ⇒ a turn of a rope around a bollard 
  2. a movement of complete or partial rotation
  3. a change or reversal of direction or position
  4. direction or drift  ⇒ his thoughts took a new turn 
  5. a deviation or departure from a course or tendency
  6. the place, point, or time at which a deviation or change occurs
  7. another word for turning (sense 1)
  8. the right or opportunity to do something in an agreed order or succession  ⇒ we'll take turns to play now it's George's turn you must not play out of turn 
  9. a change in nature, condition, etc  ⇒ his illness took a turn for the worse 
  10. a period of action, work, etc
  11. a short walk, ride, or excursion  ⇒ to take a turn in the park 
  12. natural inclination  ⇒ he is of a speculative turn of mind she has a turn for needlework 
  13. distinctive form or style  ⇒ a neat turn of phrase 
  14. requirement, need, or advantage  ⇒ to serve someone's turn 
  15. a deed performed that helps or hinders someone  ⇒ to do an old lady a good turn 
  16. a twist, bend, or distortion in shape
  17. music a melodic ornament that makes a turn around a note, beginning with the note above, in a variety of sequences
  18. theatre mainly British a short theatrical act, esp in music hall, cabaret, etc
  19. stock exchange 
    1. British the difference between a market maker's bid and offer prices, representing the market maker's profit
    2. a transaction including both a purchase and a sale
  20. a military manoeuvre in which men or ships alter their direction of advance together
  21. Australian slang a party
  22. informal a shock or surprise  ⇒ the bad news gave her quite a turn 
  23. See at every turn
  24. See by turns
  25. See on the turn
  26. See out of turn
  27. See the turn
  28. See turn and turn about
  29. See to a turn

See also

turn against , turn away , turn down , turn in , turn off , turn on , turn out , turn over , turn to , turn up

Alternative Forms

ˈturnable adjective

Word Origin

Old English tyrnian , from Old French torner , from Latin tornāre  to turn in a lathe, from tornus  lathe, from Greek tornos dividers

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= change course swing round, wheel round, veer, move, return, go back, switch, shift, reverse, swerve, change position
= rotate, spin, go round (and round) revolve, roll, circle, wheel, twist, spiral, whirl, swivel, pivot, twirl, gyrate, go round in circles, move in a circle
= go round, come round, negotiate, pass, corner, pass around, take a bend
= bend, curve, meander, wind, twist, snake, loop, zigzag,
= perform, do, carry out, execute,
= flick through, thumb, skim, browse, flip through,
= change, transform, fashion, shape, convert, alter, adapt, mould, remodel, form, mutate, refit, metamorphose, transmute, transfigure,
= become, get, grow, come to be go,
= make, produce, generate, yield,
= reach, become, hit, pass, get to,
= shape, form, fashion, cast, frame, construct, execute, mould, make,
= sicken, upset, nauseate,
= sprain, hurt, injure, strain, twist, rick, wrench,
= go bad, go off, curdle, go sour, become rancid
= make rancid spoil, sour, taint,
= change sides desert, go over, defect, retract, renege, change your mind apostatize,
= persuade, influence, prejudice, talk into, prevail upon bring round, divert,
= rotation, turning, cycle, circle, revolution, spin, twist, reversal, whirl, swivel, pivot, gyration,
= change of direction bend, curve, change of course shift, departure, deviation,
= bend, corner, twist, zigzag, dog-leg,
= junction, turning, crossroads, turnoff,
= direction, course, tack, swing, tendency, drift, bias,
= opportunity, go, spell, shot, time, try, round, chance, period, shift, crack, succession, fling, stint, whack,
= stroll, airing, walk, drive, ride, spin, circuit, constitutional, outing, excursion, promenade, jaunt, saunter,
= deed, service, act, action, favour, gesture,
= shock, start, surprise, scare, jolt, fright,
= inclination, talent, gift, leaning, bent, bias, flair, affinity, knack, propensity, aptitude,
= act, show, performance, piece, routine, number,
= twist, bend, warp, distortion,
= style, way, form, fashion, shape, make-up, cast, manner, format, mode, mould, guise,

Quotations

  • "One good turn deserves another"
  • "A bad penny always turns up"

Translations

  • British English: turn Pronunciation for turn A turn is a change of direction.You can't do a right-hand turn here.tɜːn NOUN You can't do a right-hand turn here.
  • Spanish: vuelta Pronunciation for vuelta nf
  • French: tour Pronunciation for tour nm
  • German: Drehung Pronunciation for Drehung nf
  • Chinese: 转弯Pronunciation for 转弯 n
  • Arabic: دَوْرَةPronunciation for دَوْرَة n
  • Portuguese: voltaPronunciation for volta nf
  • Russian: поворотPronunciation for поворот nm
  • Croatian: okretPronunciation for okret v
  • Czech: otáčeníPronunciation for otáčení nnt
  • Danish: svingPronunciation for sving nnt
  • Dutch: beurtPronunciation for beurt n
  • Finnish: käännösPronunciation for käännös n
  • Greek: στροφήPronunciation for στροφή nf
  • Italian: turnoPronunciation for turno nm
  • Japanese: 逸れることPronunciation for 逸れること n
  • Korean: 회전Pronunciation for 회전 n
  • Norwegian: svingPronunciation for sving nm
  • Polish: obrótPronunciation for obrót nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: giroPronunciation for giro nm
  • European Spanish: vuelta Pronunciation for vuelta nf
  • Swedish: svängPronunciation for sväng nutr
  • Thai: การเลี้ยวPronunciation for การเลี้ยว n
  • Turkish: dönmePronunciation for dönme n
  • Vietnamese: sự quayPronunciation for sự quay n
  • British English: turn Pronunciation for turn When you turn, you move in a different direction.He turned and walked away. He turned his head left and right.tɜːn VERB He turned and walked away. He turned his head left and right.
  • Spanish: girar Pronunciation for girar v
  • French: tourner Pronunciation for tourner v
  • German: drehen (sich)Pronunciation for drehen (sich) v
  • Chinese: 转弯Pronunciation for 转弯 vi
  • Arabic: يَدْوُرُPronunciation for يَدْوُرُ vi
  • Portuguese: virarPronunciation for virar vi
  • Russian: поворачиватьPronunciation for поворачивать vi
  • Croatian: okrenutiPronunciation for okrenuti v
  • Czech: otočit (se)Pronunciation for otočit (se) vi otáčet (se)
  • Danish: drejePronunciation for dreje v
  • Dutch: draaienPronunciation for draaien vi
  • Finnish: kääntyäPronunciation for kääntyä v
  • Greek: στρίβωPronunciation for στρίβω v
  • Italian: girarePronunciation for girare v
  • Japanese: 向きを変えるPronunciation for 向きを変える v
  • Korean: 회전하다Pronunciation for 회전하다 vi
  • Norwegian: svingePronunciation for svinge v
  • Polish: skręcićPronunciation for skręcić vi skręcać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: virarPronunciation for virar vi
  • European Spanish: girar Pronunciation for girar v
  • Swedish: svängaPronunciation for svänga vi
  • Thai: เลี้ยวPronunciation for เลี้ยว vi
  • Turkish: dönmekPronunciation for dönmek vi
  • Vietnamese: quay điPronunciation for quay đi v
  • British English: turn When something turns, it moves around in a circle.The wheels turned slowly. I quietly turned the handle.tɜːn VERB The wheels turned slowly. I quietly turned the handle.
  • French: tourner vi
  • Arabic: يَدورُ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: girar vi
  • British English: turn If one thing turns into another thing, it becomes that thing.The tadpole turned into a frog.tɜːn VERB The tadpole turned into a frog.
  • French: devenir vi
  • Arabic: يُصْبِحُ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: transformar vt

Usage examples

  • One dissenting voice will turn into two, which will turn into ten which will turn into an avalanche.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • A Stoat's Winter Coat Stoats turn white where snow lies at depth of an inch for at least 40 or 50 days of the year.
    Country Life (2004)
  • Now in his fifth year in charge of the senior hurlers, Cregan appeared in the last year to have helped Limerick turn the corner.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • In turn , I ensured that my own children had a similar early experience.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Never mind that they encouraged addiction by distributing free opium, and bribed police to turn a blind eye.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'T'

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