turn about
Variant of turn
transitive verb
- 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)
- 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
- to change the position of, as by a rotating motion: to turn a chair around to revolve in the mind: ponder: often with over
- to bend, fold, twist, etc.: turn the sheet back
- to twist or wrench (one's ankle)
to bend back (a cutting edge); blunt to reverse the position or sides of; invert; specif.,- to move so that the undersurface is on top and vice versa: to turn a phonograph record
- to spade, plow, etc. so that the undersoil comes to the surface
- 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) - 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.,
- to convert or persuade
- 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.,- to stop or repel: to turn an attack
- to cause to recoil, rebound, etc.: criticism turned against the critic
to drive, set, let go, etc. in some way: to turn someone adrift- to keep (money, goods, etc.) circulating or moving
- to earn (a profit), as in a commercial transaction
- 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
- 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
intransitive verb
- 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
- to seem to be whirling or moving, as to one who is dizzy
- to reel or be giddy: said of the head
- to run a lathe to be shaped on a lathe
- to move in a rotary manner so as to change position
- 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- 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
- 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
- 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
- the act of turning around; complete or partial rotation, as of a wheel; revolution
- a winding of one thing around another
- a single twist, coil, winding, etc.; convolution
- the condition of being twisted, bent, etc. in a circular form
- 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 - a change of position or posture, as by rotating motion a change or reversal of course or direction: the turn of the tide
- a walk taken about a building, area, etc., as for inspection; tour
- 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 - a change in trend, circumstances, events, policy, health, etc.: a turn for the better
- turning point
the time of a chronological change: at the turn of the century a sudden, brief shock or fright; start- 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
- a short performance given as part of a variety show; act
- its performer or performers
☆ Finance a transaction on the stock exchange involving both purchase and sale of particular securities - 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
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