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turn definition

turn (tʉrn)

transitive verb

  1. to make (a wheel, globe, etc.) move about a central point or axis; revolve or rotate to give circular motion to; move around or partly around to turn a key to do by a revolving motion to turn a somersaultBaseball to execute (a double play)
  2. to give circular shape to by rotating against a tool, as in a lathe to give rounded shape or form to in any way to give a well-rounded or graceful form to to turn a pretty phrase
  3. to change the position of, as by a rotating motion to turn a chair around to revolve in the mind: ponder: often with over
    1. to bend, fold, twist, etc. turn the sheet back
    2. to twist or wrench (one's ankle)
    to bend back (a cutting edge); blunt to reverse the position or sides of; invert; specif.,
    1. to move so that the undersurface is on top and vice versa to turn a phonograph record
    2. to spade, plow, etc. so that the undersoil comes to the surface
    3. to reverse (a collar, coat, etc.) so that the inner surface becomes the outer
    to cause to become upside down, topsy-turvy, etc. to upset or unsettle (the stomach)
  4. to bend the course of; deflect; divert to turn a blow to cause to change intentions, actions, etc. [to turn someone from his purpose]; specif.,
    1. to convert or persuade
    2. to change in feelings, attitudes, etc. to turn people against someone
    to go around (a corner, an army's flank, etc.) to reach or pass (a certain age, amount, etc.) to reverse the course of; specif.,
    1. to stop or repel to turn an attack
    2. to cause to recoil, rebound, etc. criticism turned against the critic
    to drive, set, let go, etc. in some way to turn someone adrift
    1. to keep (money, goods, etc.) circulating or moving
    2. to earn (a profit), as in a commercial transaction
  5. to change the direction of (one's eyes, face, etc.) to direct, point, aim, etc. to turn a gun on someone to change the trend, focus, etc. of to turn one's thoughts to practical matters to put to (a specified) use or result; employ; apply to turn knowledge to good account, to turn one's hand to writing
  6. to change; convert; transmute to turn cream into butter, a writer turned actor to exchange for to turn produce into hard cash to subject to turn another's remarks to ridicule to translate or paraphrase to derange, dement, distract, or infatuate to make sour to affect in some way turned sick by the sight to change the color of

Etymology: ME turnen < OE turnian & OFr turner, tourner, both < L tornare, to turn in a lathe, turn < tornus, lathe < Gr tornos, lathe, carpenter's compasses, akin to terein, to bore through: for IE base see throw

intransitive verb

  1. to move in a circle or around an axis; rotate or revolve; pivot to move in a circular manner; move around or partly around the key won't turn
    1. to seem to be whirling or moving, as to one who is dizzy
    2. to reel or be giddy: said of the head
  2. to run a lathe to be shaped on a lathe
    1. to move in a rotary manner so as to change position
    2. to shift or twist the body as if on an axis
    to become curved or bent to reverse position so that bottom becomes top; become reversed or inverted to become upset or unsettled: said of the stomach
  3. to change one's or its course so as to be moving, going, etc. in a different direction; deviate to reverse one's or its course; start to move, go, etc. in the opposite direction the tide has turned to consult; refer (to) to go or apply (to) for help
  4. to change one's or its direction; face about; shift to direct or shift one's attention, abilities, thoughts, etc. to turn from one's work to a hobby to make a sudden attack (on or upon) the dog turned on him to reverse one's feelings, attitude, allegiance, etc. to turn against former friends to be contingent or depend (on or upon)Obsolete to vacillate
  5. to enter into a specified condition; become to turn bitter with age to change into another form, type, or sort the rain turned to sleet to become rancid, putrid, sour, etc. to change color leaves turning in the fall

noun

  1. the act of turning around; complete or partial rotation, as of a wheel; revolution
    1. a winding of one thing around another
    2. a single twist, coil, winding, etc.; convolution
    1. the condition of being twisted, bent, etc. in a circular form
    2. the direction of this
    a musical ornament consisting usually of four tones, the second and fourth of which are the same, or principal, tone, the first, normally, being a degree above, and the third a degree below
  2. a change of position or posture, as by rotating motion a change or reversal of course or direction the turn of the tide
    1. a walk taken about a building, area, etc., as for inspection; tour
    2. a short walk or ride, returning to the starting place, as for exercise
    the place where a change in direction occurs; bend; curveGolf the midway point of a round, usually after the ninth hole
    1. a change in trend, circumstances, events, policy, health, etc. a turn for the better
    2. turning point
    the time of a chronological change at the turn of the century a sudden, brief shock or fright; start
  3. an action that harms or, more usually, benefits another to do someone a good turn a bout; spell; try a turn at gardening an attack of illness, dizziness, rage, etc.; fit the right, duty, or opportunity to do something, esp. as coming to each of a number of people in regular order one's turn at batBrit. a shift of work
    1. a short performance given as part of a variety show; act
    2. its performer or performers
    Finance a transaction on the stock exchange involving both purchase and sale of particular securities
  4. a distinctive form, manner, cast, detail, etc. a quaint turn to her speech natural inclination or aptitude; flair an inquisitive turn of mind a tendency; drift; trend the discussion took a new turn a variation or interpretation of the original to give an old story a new turn
turn Idioms

at every turn

in every instance; constantly

by turns

one after another; alternately; in succession

call the turn

Etymology: term in faro, for guessing which card will be turned up

to predict successfully

in turn

in proper sequence or succession

out of turn

  1. not in proper sequence or order
  2. at the wrong time; esp., unwisely or imprudently to talk out of turn

take turns

to speak, do, etc. one after another in regular order

to a turn

to just the right degree; perfectly

turn and turn about

one after another in regular order; by turns

turn around

Slang
  1. to change or alter the attitude, behavior, condition, etc. of, as to improve or impress
  2. to complete (a project, process, etc.)

turn down

    1. to reject (a request, advice, etc.)
    2. to reject the request, advice, etc. of (someone)
  1. to lessen the intensity or volume of (light or sound) by manipulating controls

turn in

  1. to make a turn into; enter
  2. to point (the toes) inward
  3. ☆ to deliver; hand in
  4. ☆ to inform on or hand over, as to the police
  5. to give back; return
  6. to fold over; double
  7. Informal to go to bed

turn off

  1. to leave (a road, path, etc.) and enter another branching off
  2. to branch off: said of a road, path, etc.
    1. to stop a flow of (water, gas, electricity, etc.)
    2. to close (a faucet, valve, etc.) so as to stop a flow
    3. to make (an electrical device) stop functioning by operating the controls
  3. to stop displaying or showing, suddenly or automatically to turn off a smile
  4. to deflect; divert
  5. Slang to cause (someone) to become bored, depressed, uninterested, etc.
  6. Brit. to discharge (an employee)

turn on

    1. to start a flow of (water, gas, electricity, etc.)
    2. to open (a faucet, valve, etc.) so as to start a flow
    3. to make (an electrical device) start functioning by operating the controls
  1. to show or display suddenly or automatically to turn on the charm
  2. Slang
    1. to initiate in the use of a psychedelic drug
    2. to stimulate or be stimulated with or as with a psychedelic drug; make or become elated, euphoric, etc.
    3. to stimulate sexually
    4. to make interested, enthusiastic, etc.

turn out

  1. to put out (a light)
  2. to put outside
  3. to drive out; dismiss or discharge
  4. to turn inside out
  5. to come or go out, as to assemble somewhere
  6. to produce as the result of work
  7. to result; eventuate
  8. to prove to be; be discovered to be
  9. to come to be; become
  10. to equip, dress, etc.
  11. Informal to get out of bed

turn over

  1. to change the position of, as by rolling
  2. to reverse the position of; turn upside down; invert
  3. to shift one's position, as from one side to the other; roll over
  4. to begin, or make begin, to operate, as an engine or motor
  5. to think about carefully; ponder
  6. to hand over; transfer
  7. to relinquish; delegate
  8. to put to a different use; convert
  9. to sell and replenish (a stock of goods)
  10. to buy and sell, or do business, to the amount of
  11. Basketball, Football to lose possession of (the ball) due to a mistake or error

turn the scales

to determine or decide something uncertain the arrival of fresh troops turned the scales

turn to

to get to work; get busy

turn up

  1. to fold or bend back or over upon itself
  2. to shorten (a dress, a sleeve, etc.) by folding back the bottom edge and making a new hem
  3. to lift up or turn face upward, as to see the other side
  4. to bring to light, as by digging
  5. to increase the flow, speed, intensity, loudness, etc. of, as by turning a control
    1. to make a turn onto and ascend (a street on a hill, etc.)
    2. to make a turn into any street or road
  6. to have an upward direction
  7. to come about; happen
  8. to make an appearance; arrive
  9. to be found

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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