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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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