Turn Definition

tûrn
turned, turning, turns
verb
turned, turning, turns
To make (a wheel, globe, etc.) move about a central point or axis; revolve or rotate.
Webster's New World
To move in a circular manner; move around or partly around.
The key won't turn.
Webster's New World
To cause to move around in order to achieve a result, such as opening, closing, tightening, or loosening.
Turn the key; turn a screw.
American Heritage
To alter or control the functioning of (a mechanical device, for example) by the use of a rotating or similar movement.
Turned the iron to a hotter setting.
American Heritage
To seem to be whirling or moving, as to one who is dizzy.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
turns
The act of turning around; complete or partial rotation, as of a wheel; revolution.
Webster's New World
A winding of one thing around another.
Webster's New World
The condition of being twisted, bent, etc. in a circular form.
Webster's New World
A change of position or posture, as by rotating motion.
Webster's New World
The direction of this.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
idiom
at every turn
  • In every place; at every moment.
American Heritage
by turns
  • One after another; alternately:
American Heritage
in turn
  • In the proper order or sequence.
American Heritage
out of turn
  • Not in the proper order or sequence.
  • At an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner:

    The student was reprimanded for speaking out of turn.

American Heritage
to a turn
  • To a precise degree; perfectly:

    The roast was done to a turn.

American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Turn

Noun

Singular:
turn
Plural:
turns

Origin of Turn

  • From Middle English turnen, from Old English turnian, tyrnan (“to turn, rotate, revolve") and Old French torner (“to turn"), both from Latin tornāre (“to round off, turn in a lathe"), from tornus (“lathe"), from Ancient Greek τόρνος (tórnos, “a tool used for making circles"), from Proto-Indo-European *tere-, *ter-, *trÄ“- (“to rub, rub by turning, turn, twist, bore"). Cognate with Old English þrāwan (“to turn, twist, wind"). More at throw.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English turnen from Old English turnian, tyrnan Old French torner both from Latin tornāre to turn in a lathe from tornus lathe from Greek tornos terə-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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