v.
- move in a circular direction wholly or partly around an axis.
▸twist or sprain (an ankle).
- move into a different position, especially so as to face the opposite direction.
▸change or cause to change direction.
▸(of the tide) change from flood to ebb or vice versa.
▸pass round (the flank or defensive lines of an army) so as to attack from the side or rear.
▸archaic bend back (the edge of a blade) so as to make it blunt.
- change or cause to change in nature, state, form, or colour; make or become:
Emma turned pale.
▸(of leaves) change colour in the autumn.
▸(with reference to milk) make or become sour.
▸make or become nauseated:
the smell would turn the strongest stomach.
-
(turn to)
start doing or becoming involved with.
▸go to for help or information.
▸have recourse to:
he turned to drink for solace.
- shape on a lathe.
- give a graceful or elegant form to.
- make (a profit).
n.
- an act of turning.
▸a bend or curve in a road, path, river, etc.
▸a road junction.
▸Cricket deviation in the direction of the ball when bouncing off the pitch.
▸one round in a coil of rope or other material.
- a development or change in circumstances.
▸a time when one period of time ends and another begins.
▸
(the turn)
the beginning of the second nine holes of a round of golf.
- an 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.
- a short walk or ride.
- informal a shock.
▸a brief feeling or experience of illness:
he's had a funny turn.
- the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products.
▸a profit made from such a difference.
- Music a melodic ornament consisting of the principal note with those above and below it.
Phrase
Phrase verbal
- turn someone away
refuse admittance to someone. - turn someone/thing down
- reject an offer or proposal or someone making one.
-
(turn something down)
adjust a control on an electrical device to reduce the volume, heat, etc.
- turn in
informal go to bed in the evening. - turn someone/thing in
hand someone or something over to the authorities. - turn off
leave one road in order to join another. - turn someone off
informal make someone bored or repelled. - turn something off
(or on)
stop (or start) the operation of something by means of a tap, switch, or button. - turn on
- suddenly attack.
- have as the main focus.
- turn someone on
informal excite or stimulate someone, especially sexually. - turn out
- prove to be the case.
- go somewhere to attend a meeting, vote, play in a game, etc.
- turn someone out
- eject or expel someone from a place.
- Military call a guard from the guardroom.
-
(be turned out)
be dressed in the manner specified.
- turn something out
- extinguish an electric light.
- produce something.
- empty something, especially one's pockets.
- turn over
- (of an engine) start or continue to run properly.
- (of a business) have a turnover of.
- turn someone/thing over
change or transfer custody or control of someone or something. - turn something round
(or around)
reverse the previously poor performance of something. - turn up
- be found, especially by chance.
- put in an appearance; arrive.
- turn something up
- increase the volume or strength of sound, heat, etc. by adjusting a control on a device.
- reveal or discover something.
- shorten a garment by raising the hem.
Derivative
Etymology
OE tyrnan, turnian (v.), from L. tornare, from tornus ‘lathe’, from Gk tornos ‘lathe, circular movement’; prob. reinforced in ME by OFr. turner.