- to cause to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate: to turn a wheel.
- to cause to move around or partly around, as for the purpose of opening, closing, or tightening: to turn a key;to turn the cap of a bottle.
- to reverse the position or placement of: to turn a page;to turn an egg;to turn a person around.
- to bring the lower layers of (sod, soil, etc.) to the surface, as in plowing.
- to change the position of, by or as if by rotating; move into a different position: to turn the handle one notch.
- to change or alter the course of; divert; deflect: He turned the blow with his arm.
- to change the focus or tendency of: She skillfully turned the conversation away from so unpleasant a subject.
- to reverse the progress of; cause to retreat: The police turned the advancing rioters by firing over their heads.
- to change or alter the nature, character, or appearance of: Worry turned his hair gray.
- to change or convert (usually followed by into or to): to turn water into ice;to turn tears into laughter.
- to render or make by some change: Fear turned him cowardly and craven.
- to change the color of (leaves).
- to cause to become sour, to ferment, or the like: Warm weather turns milk.
- to cause (the stomach) to reject food, liquid, etc.; affect with nausea.
- to change from one language or form of expression to another; translate.
- to put or apply to some use or purpose: He turned his mind to practical matters.
- to go or pass around or to the other side of: to turn a street corner.
- to get beyond or pass (a certain age, time, amount, etc.): His son just turned four.
- to direct, aim, or set toward, away from, or in a specified direction: to turn the car toward the center of town;to turn one's back to the audience.
- to direct (the eyes, face, etc.) another way; avert.
- to shape (a piece of metal, wood, etc.) into rounded form with a cutting tool while rotating the piece on a lathe.
- to bring into a rounded or curved form in any way.
- to shape artistically or gracefully, especially in rounded form.
- to form or express gracefully: to turn a phrase well.
- to direct (thought, attention, desire, etc.) toward or away from something.
- to cause to go; send; drive: to turn a person from one's door.
- to revolve in the mind; ponder (often followed by over): He turned the idea over a couple of times before acting on it.
- to persuade (a person) to change or reorder the course of their life.
- to cause to be prejudiced against: to turn a son against his father.
- to maintain a steady flow or circulation of (money or articles of commerce).
- to earn or gain: He turned a huge profit on the sale.
- to reverse or remake (a garment, shirt collar, etc.) so that the inner side becomes the outer.
- to pour from one container into another by inverting.
- to curve, bend, or twist.
- to twist out of position or sprain; wrench: He turned his ankle.
- to bend back or blunt (the edge of a blade).
- to perform (a gymnastic feat) by rotating or revolving: to turn a somersault.
- to disorder or upset the placement or condition of: He turned the room upside down.
- to disturb the balance of (the mind); drive to distraction; make crazy or insane: In the same year his three sons and his mother died, and grief turned his mind.
- Obsolete.
- to convert.
- to pervert.
- to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate.
- to move partly around through the arc of a circle, as a door on a hinge.
- to hinge or depend (usually followed by on or upon): The question turns on this point.
- to direct or set one's course toward, away from, or in a particular direction.
- to direct the face or gaze toward or away from someone or something.
- to direct one's thought, attention, desire, etc., toward or away from someone or something.
- to give or apply one's interest, attention, effort, etc., to something; devote oneself: He turned to the study and practice of medicine.
- to change or reverse a course so as to go in a different or the opposite direction: to turn to the right.
- to change position so as to face in a different or the opposite direction.
- to change or reverse position or posture as by a rotary motion.
- to shift the body about as if on an axis: to turn on one's side while sleeping.
- to assume a curved form; bend.
- to become blunted or dulled by bending, as the cutting edge of a knife or saw.
- to be affected with nausea, as the stomach.
- to be affected with giddiness or dizziness; have a sensation of whirling or reeling.
- to adopt religion, a manner of life, etc., especially as differing from a previous position or attitude: He turned to Christianity in his old age.
- to change or transfer one's loyalties; defect: He turned from the Democrats and joined the Republicans.
- to change an attitude or policy: to turn in favor of someone;to turn against a person.
- to change or alter, as in nature, character, or appearance.
- to become sour, rancid, fermented, or the like, as milk or butter.
- to change color: The leaves began to turn in October.
- to change so as to be; become: a lawyer turned poet;to turn pale.
- to become mentally unbalanced or distracted.
- to put about or tack, as a ship.
- (of copy) to run either from the bottom of the last column on one page to the top of the first column on the following page or from one column on a page to the expected place in the next column on the page (opposed to jump def. 20).
- a movement of partial or total rotation: a slight turn of the handle.
- an act of changing or reversing position or posture, as by a rotary movement: a turn of the head.
- a time or opportunity for action which comes in due rotation or order to each of a number of persons, animals, etc.: It's my turn to pay the bill.
- an act of changing or reversing the course or direction: to make a turn to the left.
- a place or point at which such a change occurs.
- a place where a road, river, or the like turns; bend: About a mile ahead, you'll come to a turn in the road.
- a single revolution, as of a wheel.
- an act of turning so as to face or go in a different direction.
- direction, drift, or trend: The conversation took an interesting turn.
- any change, as in nature, character, condition, affairs, circumstances, etc.; alteration; modification: a turn for the better.
- the point or time of change.
- the time during which a worker or a set of workers is at work in alternation with others.
- that which is done by each of a number of persons acting in rotation or succession.
- rounded or curved form.
- the shape or mold in which something is formed or cast.
- a passing or twisting of one thing around another, as of a rope around a mast.
- the state of or a manner of being twisted.
- a single circular or convoluted shape, as of a coiled or wound rope.
- a small latch operated by a turning knob or lever.
- style, as of expression or language.
- a distinctive form or style imparted: a happy turn of expression.
- a short walk, ride, or the like out and back, especially by different routes: Let's go for a turn in the park.
- a natural inclination, bent, tendency, or aptitude: one's turn of mind.
- a spell or period of work; shift.
- a spell or bout of action or activity, especially in wrestling.
- an attack of illness or the like.
- an act of service or disservice: He once did her a good turn.She repaid it with a bad turn.
- requirement, exigency, or need: This will serve your turn.
- treatment or rendering, especially with reference to the form or content of a work of literature, art, etc.; twist: He gave the story a new turn.
- a nervous shock, as from fright or astonishment: It certainly gave me quite a turn to see him.
- a complete securities transaction that includes both a purchase and sale.
- a melodic embellishment or grace, commonly consisting of a principal tone with two auxiliary tones, one above and the other below it.
- an individual stage performance, especially in a vaudeville theater or music hall.
- a drill movement by which a formation changes fronts.
- a contest or round; a bout, as in wrestling.
- turn back,
- to retrace one's footsteps; turn around to return.
- to cause to go no further or to return, as by not welcoming; send away.
- to fold (a blanket, sheet of paper, etc.) on itself: Turn back the page to keep the place.
- turn down,
- to turn over; fold down.
- to lower in intensity; lessen.
- to refuse or reject (a person, request, etc.): The Marine Corps turned him down.
- turn heel,
- to reverse position in order to flee or retreat: Those cowards turned heel and ran away!
- to adopt a villainous heel role: It’s not unusual for a wrestler’s popularity to soar when he turns heel.
- turn in,
- to hand in; submit: to turn in a resignation.
- to inform on or deliver up: She promptly turned him in to the police.
- to turn from one path or course into another; veer.
- to go to bed; retire: I never turn in before eleven o'clock.
- turn into,
- to drive a vehicle or to walk into (a street, store, etc.): We turned into the dead-end street.He turned into the saloon at the corner.
- to be changed, transformed, or converted into: He has turned into a very pleasant fellow.The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.
- turn off,
- to stop the flow of (water, gas, etc.), as by closing a faucet or valve.
- to switch off (a light).
- to stop the operation of (a machine, device, etc.): Don’t forget to turn off the oven.Turn off your phones during the exam.
- to divert; deflect.
- to diverge or branch off, as a side road from a main road.
- to drive a vehicle or walk onto (a side road) from a main road: You turn off at 96th Street.Turn off the highway on the dirt road.
- to stop listening: You could see him turn off as the speaker droned on.
- to disaffect, alienate, or disgust.
- to discharge an employee.
- turn on,
- to cause (water, gas, etc.) to flow, as by opening a valve.
- to switch on (a light).
- to put (a machine, device, etc.) into operation; activate: Roll down the windows and turn on the radio.
- to start suddenly to affect or show: She turned on the charm and won him over.
- to induce (a person) to start taking a narcotic drug.
- to take a narcotic drug.
- to arouse or excite the interest of; engage: the first lecture that really turned me on.
- to arouse sexually.
- to become suddenly hostile to: The dog turned on its owner.
- turn out,
- to extinguish (a light).
- to produce as the result of labor: She turned out four tapestries a year.
- to drive out; dismiss; discharge: a premier turned out of office.
- to fit out; dress; equip.
- to unfold or develop toward a conclusion.
- to come to be; become ultimately.
- to be found or known; prove.
- to be present at; appear.
- to get out of bed.
- to order (a seaman or seamen) from quarters for duty.
- to cause to turn outward, as the toes.
- turn over,
- to move or be moved from one side to another.
- to put in reverse position; invert.
- to consider; meditate; ponder.
- to transfer; give.
- to start (an engine): He turned over the car motor.
- (of an engine) to start: The motor turned over without any trouble.
- to purchase and then sell (goods or commodities).
- to do business or sell goods to the amount of (a specified sum).
- to invest or recover (capital) in some transaction or in the course of business.
- turn to,
- to apply to for aid; appeal to: When he was starting out as an artist he turned to his friends for loans.
- to begin to attend to or work at something: After the storm we turned to and cleaned up the debris.
- to change to: The ice turned to water.
- turn up,
- to fold (material, a hem, cuffs, etc.) up or over in order to alter a garment.
- to bring to the surface by digging: to turn up a shovelful of earth.
- to uncover; find.
- to intensify or increase.
- to happen; occur: Let's wait and see what turns up.
- to appear; arrive: She turned up at the last moment.
- to be recovered: I'm sure your watch will turn up eventually.
- to come to notice; be seen.
- in every case or instance; constantly: We met with kindness at every turn.
- one after another; in rotation or succession; alternately: They did their shopping and cleaning by turns.
- a period or piece of work: It won't be necessary for you to do a hand's turn yourself, but rather to supervise.
- in due order of succession: Each generation in turn must grapple with the same basic problems.
- on the verge or in the process of turning; changing: She said she hoped to be alive to see the century on the turn.
- out of turn,
- not in the correct succession; out of proper order.
- at an unsuitable time; imprudently; indiscreetly: He spoke out of turn and destroyed the cordial atmosphere of the meeting.
- to succeed one another in order; rotate; alternate: They took turns walking the dog.
- to just the proper degree; to perfection: The steak was done to a turn.
- by turns: They fought the fire, turn and turn about, until daybreak.
- hand (def. 90).
- table (def. 24).
- tide1 (def. 16).
- to move or cause to move around an axis
- to change or cause to change positions by moving through an arc of a circle
- to change or cause to change in course, direction, etc
- (of soldiers, ships, etc) to alter the direction of advance by changing direction simultaneously or (of a commander) to cause the direction of advance to be altered simultaneously
- to go or pass to the other side of (a corner, etc)
- to assume or cause to assume a rounded, curved, or folded form
- to reverse or cause to reverse position
- to pass round (an enemy or enemy position) so as to attack it from the flank or rear
- to perform or do by a rotating movement
- to shape or cut a thread in (a workpiece, esp one of metal, wood, or plastic) by rotating it on a lathe against a fixed cutting tool
- to change or convert or be changed or converted
- to change or cause to change in nature, character, etc
- to change so as to become
- to cause (foliage, etc) to change colour or (of foliage, etc) to change colour
- to cause (milk, etc) to become rancid or sour or (of milk, etc) to become rancid or sour
- to change or cause to change in subject, trend, etc
- to direct or apply or be directed or applied
- to appeal or apply (to) for help, advice, etc
- to reach, pass, or progress beyond in age, time, etc
- to cause or allow to go
- to affect or be affected with nausea
- to affect or be affected with giddiness
- to affect the mental or emotional stability of (esp in the phrase turn (someone's) head)
- to release from a container
- to render into another language
- to transfer or reverse or cause to transfer or reverse (one's loyalties, affections, etc)
- to cause (an enemy agent) to become a double agent working for one's own side
- to bring (soil) from lower layers to the surface
- to blunt (an edge) or (of an edge) to become blunted
- to give a graceful form to
- to reverse (a cuff, collar, etc) in order to hide the outer worn side
- to be merchandised as specified
- to spin (the ball) or (of the ball) to spin
- to undertake (something, esp something practical)
- to run away; flee
- turn the tables on someone See table (def. 17)
- to reverse the general course of events
- an act or instance of turning or the state of being turned or the material turned
- a movement of complete or partial rotation
- a change or reversal of direction or position
- direction or drift
- a deviation or departure from a course or tendency
- the place, point, or time at which a deviation or change occurs
- another word for turning (def. 1)
- the right or opportunity to do something in an agreed order or succession
- a change in nature, condition, etc
- a period of action, work, etc
- a short walk, ride, or excursion
- natural inclination
- distinctive form or style
- requirement, need, or advantage
- a deed performed that helps or hinders someone
- a twist, bend, or distortion in shape
- a melodic ornament that makes a turn around a note, beginning with the note above, in a variety of sequences
- a short theatrical act, esp in music hall, cabaret, etc
- stock exchange
- the difference between a market maker's bid and offer prices, representing the market maker's profit
- a transaction including both a purchase and a sale
- a military manoeuvre in which men or ships alter their direction of advance together
- a party
- a shock or surprise
- on all sides or occasions
- one after another; alternately
- on the turn informal
- at the point of change
- about to go rancid
- out of turn
- not in the correct or agreed order of succession
- improperly, inappropriately, or inopportunely
- the fourth community card to be dealt face-up in a round of Texas hold ’em
- one after another; alternately
- to the proper amount; perfectly