Search results for 'turn':

turn verb (turned, turning) 1 tr & intr to move or go round in a circle or with a circular movement • turned the key and opened the door. 2 tr & intr to change or make someone or something change position so that a different side or part comes to the top, front, etc • turn the pages slowly • turn to face the sun. 3 to put something into a specified position by, or as if by, inverting it; to tip out • turned the dough on to the table. 4 intrans to change direction or take a new direction • turn left at the corner. 5 tr & intr to direct, aim or point, or be directed, aimed or pointed • turned his thoughts to the problems at work. 6 to go round • turned the corner too fast. 7 tr & intr to become or make someone or something become or change to something specified • Fame turned him into a real show-off • love which turned to hate • turn nasty. 8 tr & intr to change or make someone or something change colour • The shock turned his hair white • The leaves begin to turn in September. 9 tr & intr said of milk, etc: to make or become sour. 10 to shape something using a lathe or potter's wheel. 11 to perform with a rotating movement • turn somersaults. 12 intrans to move or swing around a point or pivot • a gate turning on its hinge • turn on one's heels. 13 to pass the age or time of • turned forty this year • It's turned midnight. 14 to appeal to or have recourse to someone or something for help, support, relief, etc • turned to drink after the divorce • always turns to me for advice. 15 to come to consider or pay attention to something or to doing something • The conversation turned to politics. 16 tr & intr a said of the stomach: to feel nausea or queasiness; b to cause (the stomach) to become nauseous or queasy • That scene is enough to turn your stomach. 17 to translate • turned Camus's unfinished work into English. 18 to remake (part of a piece of clothing, sheet, etc) by putting the worn outer part on the inside • turn a collar. 19 to express, especially elegantly • always turning compliments. 20 intrans said of the tide: to begin to flow in the opposite direction. 21 to make (a profit, etc). noun 1 an act, instance or the process of turning; a complete or partial rotation • a turn of the wheel. 2 a change of direction, course or position • The road takes a turn to the right. 3 a point or place where a change of direction occurs • The house is just past the turn in the road. 4 a direction, tendency or trend • the twists and turns of the saga. 5 a change in nature, character, condition, course, etc • an unfortunate turn of events. 6 an opportunity or duty that comes to each of several people in rotation or succession • her turn to bat. 7 inclination or tendency • a pessimistic turn of mind. 8 a distinctive style or manner • a blunt turn of phrase. 9 an act or service of a specified kind, usually good or malicious • always doing good turns for others. 10 colloq a sudden feeling of illness, nervousness, shock, faintness, etc • gave her quite a turn. 11 a short walk or ride • went for a turn round the garden. 12 a each of a series of short acts or performances, eg in a circus or variety theatre; b a performer who does one of these acts. 13 a single coil or twist of eg rope or wire. 14 music an ornament in which the principal note is preceded by that next above it and followed by that next below it. 15 golf the place on the course or the stage of play after the ninth hole when the players start heading back to the clubhouse • They were all square at the turn. at every turn everywhere, at every stage; continually. by turns see in turn below. in one's turn when it is one's turn, chance, etc. in turn or by turns one after the other in an orderly or pre-arranged manner • The class took the gerbil home at weekends in turn. not know where or which way to turn to be completely confused as to how to act, behave, etc. on the turn 1 said of the tide: starting to change direction. 2 said of milk: on the point of going sour. out of turn 1 out of the correct order or at the wrong time • played his shot out of turn. 2 inappropriately, discourteously, etc • He apologized for speaking out of turn. not turn a hair see under hair. serve its turn to be adequate for the job in hand. take a turn for the better or the worse to improve, or deteriorate, especially slightly • took a turn for the better after she was given the medicine • The weather took a turn for the worse. take turns or take it in turns said especially of two or more people or things: to do something alternately or one after another • took it in turns to cook the dinner. the turn of the month, year, century, etc the end of one month, year, century, etc and the beginning of the next. to a turn to exactly the right degree; to perfection • The steak was done to a turn. turn a blind eye see under blind. turn a deaf ear see under deaf. turn (and turn) about one after the other; each taking a turn. turn in one's grave said of a dead person: to be thought certain to have been distressed or offended, had they been alive, by circumstances such as those now in question. turn one's ankle to twist it or strain it slightly. turn one's back on someone or something 1 to leave them or it for good. 2 to have no more to do with them or it • says he's turned his back on drugs. turn one's hand to something to undertake a task, etc or have the ability for it • She's very talented and can turn her hand to most things. turn on one's heels see under heel¹. turn over a new leaf see under leaf. turn Queen's or King's or state's evidence see under evidence. turn the other cheek to refuse to engage in any form of retaliation. turn a someone's head to make them conceited, smug, snobbish, etc. turn someone or something loose to set them or it free. turn the corner see under corner. turn tail to flee. turn the tables (on someone) see under table. turn the tide to cause a change or reversal, eg in events, thinking, etc. turn a trick see under trick. turn turtle see under turtle. turn up one's nose (at something) see under nose.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon turnian and 13c French torner.