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turret Definition

tur·ret (tʉrit, to̵or-)

noun

  1. a small tower projecting from a building, usually at a corner and often merely ornamental
  2. a wooden, usually square tower on wheels, carrying soldiers, battering-rams, catapults, etc., used in ancient warfare for attacking fortresses and walled cities
    1. a low, armored, usually revolving, structure for a gun or guns, as on a warship, tank, or fortress
    2. a transparent dome for a gun and gunner, as on a bomber
  3. an attachment for a lathe, drill, etc., consisting of a block holding several cutting tools, which may be rotated to present any of the tools to the work
  4. an adjustable device on a camera for holding various lenses

Etymology: ME turet < OFr tourete, dim. of tour: see tower

turret Synonyms

turret

n.

tower, revolving dome, watchtower, armored tank top, conical top, gun bulge, blister; see also top 1.

turret Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • rotate: The rotating turret has been mounted on the frames, together with the arm on which the cutter head will be mounted.
  • mount: X, a kind of turret mounted on a base 32 inches in diameter, Fig.

Preposition: at

  • angle: Stair turret at southeast angle is lit by two slits in the same stage.

Converse of subject

  • surmount: The entrance is by a porch at the west end, which is surmounted by a bell turret, with two bells.

Adjective modifier

  • octagonal: Three octagonal turrets continue up above the roof line, reducing twice, with decorations on top.
  • revolving: Two 12 inch guns would be housed in a revolving turret.
  • dorsal: With the dorsal turret removed she would have been capable of around 350 mph +. Two 650 hp Mercury VIS engines gave adequate power.
  • stationary: You'll also find stationary turrets which can prove vital to your efforts.
  • triple: Especially the question of superimposed twin or superimposed triple turrets was never really clear for a long time.
  • circular: Once they were inside the castle, the children were taken to rooms prepared for them in the circular turrets.

Modifies a noun

  • gunner: Tho the top turret gunner tried to put out the flames, the cabin was filled with smoke.
  • lathe: Previously, the time to machine the shaft and the faces and OD of each impeller was 5½ minutes, using twin turret lathes.
  • clock: Finally it is hoped to include a visit to a local church turret clock.
  • gun: The cordite for the turret guns was supplied in cylindrical cases, each case containing two quarter charges.

Noun used with modifier

  • sanctus: Note the bell, which may have come from the sanctus bell turret visible in the adjacent photo.
  • stair: A stair turret breaks the symmetry on the south face.
  • bell: To replace the old bell turret an new bell tower was erected.
  • gun: Go left from the gun turret to get there.
  • staircase: Access to the gallery is from the exterior staircase turret.
  • corner: Entrance to the tower was by a door in a corner stair turret.
turret Quotes

All through that summer at ease we lay, And daily from the turret wall We watched the mowers in the hay And the enemy half a mile away. They seemed no threat to us at all.

—Muir, Edwin

Awake! for Morning in the bowl of night Has flung the stone that puts the stars to flight: And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught The Sultan's turret in a noose of light.

—Fitzgerald, Edward

Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

—Jarrell, Randall

Browse dictionary entries near turret

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