Definition

1. Noun:

   • A change in direction or position: The act of moving or rotating around a central point or axis, or a change in the course of something.
   • A chance or opportunity to do something in a sequence: A person's time or chance to do something, especially when people are taking sequential actions.
   • A short walk or drive: A short journey, often for pleasure, that involves going somewhere and returning.
   • A particular quality or character: A distinctive style, form, or expression.
   • A period of time or a shift: A short period of activity or duty.
   • An unexpected change in a situation: A development or change in events, especially an unforeseen one.

2. Verb:

   • To move or cause to move around a central point: To rotate or revolve.
   • To change direction: To move so as to face or go in a different direction.
   • To change in nature, state, or form: To become something different or cause something to become different.
   • To reach or pass a certain point in time or age: To become a specific age or to reach a particular time.
   • To shape on a lathe: To give a rounded form to an object by rotating it against a cutting tool.
   • To direct or point: To aim or focus something in a particular direction.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He made a sharp turn to the left. (He changed direction to the left.)
  • It's your turn to speak. (It is now your opportunity or time to speak.)
  • Let's go for a turn around the block. (Let's take a short walk around the block.)
  • She has a witty turn of phrase. (She has a clever way of expressing herself.)
  • I'll take a turn at watching the children. (I will take a short period of duty watching the children.)
  • Events took an unexpected turn. (The situation changed in an unforeseen way.)

• Verb:

  • Please turn the key in the lock. (Please rotate the key.)
  • The car turned onto the main road. (The car changed direction onto the main road.)
  • The milk will turn sour if left out. (The milk will become sour.)
  • She turned fifty last week. (She became fifty years old last week.)
  • He turns wood to make bowls. (He shapes wood on a lathe to make bowls.)
  • She turned her attention to the problem. (She directed her attention to the problem.)

Advanced Usage

• "to turn over": To flip something so the other side is up, or to transfer control.

  • He turned over the document to read the back.
  • The company was turned over to new management.

• "to turn out": To result in a particular way; to produce; to attend an event.

  • The party turned out to be a great success.
  • The factory turns out a thousand cars a day.
  • A large crowd turned out for the parade.

• "to turn against": To become opposed or hostile to someone or something.

  • The public turned against the policy after the scandal.

• "to turn a profit": To earn a profit.

  • The new store finally turned a profit in its second year.

Variants and Related Words

• Turner (n): A person or machine that turns something, especially a person who shapes wood or metal on a lathe.
• Turning (n): The action or skill of shaping wood or metal on a lathe; a place where a road branches off.
• Turnstile (n): A mechanical gate consisting of revolving horizontal arms that allow only one person at a time to pass through.
• Turnover (n): The amount of money taken by a business in a particular period; the rate at which employees leave and are replaced.
• Turnkey (adj): Supplied, installed, or provided complete and ready to operate.

Synonyms

• Rotate (v): To move in a circle around a central point.
• Revolve (v): To move in a circular orbit around a central point.
• Shift (v/n): To move or change, or a change in position or direction.
• Change (v/n): To make or become different.
• Bend (v/n): To curve or change direction; a curved section.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Turn around: To change to an opposite direction or a more successful condition.

  • The company turned around its fortunes under new leadership.

• Turn down: To reject an offer or request; to reduce the volume or intensity.

  • She had to turn down the job offer.
  • Please turn down the music.

• Turn into: To change or transform into something else.

  • The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.

• Turn up: To arrive or appear; to increase the volume or intensity.

  • He finally turned up an hour late.
  • Can you turn up the heat?

Related Idioms

• Turn a blind eye: To pretend not to notice something.

  • The manager turned a blind eye to the minor rule violations.

• Turn over a new leaf: To start behaving in a better way.

  • After the incident, he decided to turn over a new leaf.

• Turn the tables: To reverse a situation to gain an advantage.

  • The underdog team turned the tables and won the championship.

• At every turn: Continuously or at every opportunity.

  • She faced obstacles at every turn.

• In turn: One after the other in a sequence.

  • The speakers presented their arguments in turn.

Noun

1. taking a short walk out and back
   • we took a turn in the park
2. a favor for someone
   • he did me a good turn
3. a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program
   • he did his act three times every evening
   • she had a catchy little routine
   • it was one of the best numbers he ever did
4. (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
5. a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
   • it's my go
   • a spell of work
6. turning or twisting around (in place)
   • with a quick twist of his head he surveyed the room
7. the act of turning away or in the opposite direction
   • he made an abrupt turn away from her
8. a movement in a new direction
   • the turning of the wind
9. an unforeseen development
   • events suddenly took an awkward turn
10. (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
    • it is my turn
    • it is still my play
11. the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
    • he took a turn to the right
12. a circular segment of a curve
    • a bend in the road
    • a crook in the path

Verb

1. become officially one year older
   • She is turning 50 this year
2. go sour or spoil
   • The milk has soured
   • The wine worked
   • The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
3. have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to
   • She called on her Representative to help her
   • She turned to her relatives for help
4. direct at someone
   • She turned a smile on me
   • They turned their flashlights on the car
5. alter the functioning or setting of
   • turn the dial to 10
   • turn the heat down
6. cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form
   • bend the rod
   • twist the dough into a braid
   • the strong man could turn an iron bar
7. channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention toward or away from something
   • The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction
   • people turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium
8. cause to move along an axis or into a new direction
   • turn your face to the wall
   • turn the car around
   • turn your dance partner around
9. get by buying and selling
   • the company turned a good profit after a year
10. accomplish by rotating
    • turn a somersault
    • turn cartwheels
11. cause to change or turn into something different; assume new characteristics
    • The princess turned the frog into a prince by kissing him
    • The alchemists tried to turn lead into gold
12. twist suddenly so as to sprain
    • wrench one's ankle
    • The wrestler twisted his shoulder
    • the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell
    • I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days
13. change color
    • In Vermont, the leaves turn early
14. shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel
    • turn the legs of the table
    • turn the clay on the wheel
15. to break and turn over earth especially with a plow
    • Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week
    • turn the earth in the Spring
16. to send or let go
    • They turned away the crowd at the gate of the governor's mansion
17. cause to move around a center so as to show another side of
    • turn a page of a book
18. move around an axis or a center
    • The wheels are turning
19. let (something) fall or spill from a container
    • turn the flour onto a plate
20. pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
    • The weather turned nasty
    • She grew angry
21. pass to the other side of
    • turn the corner
    • move around the obstacle
22. change to the contrary
    • The trend was reversed
    • the tides turned against him
    • public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern
23. cause to move around or rotate
    • turn a key
    • turn your palm this way
24. undergo a change or development
    • The water turned into ice
    • Her former friend became her worst enemy
    • He turned traitor
25. undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
    • We turned from Socialism to Capitalism
    • The people turned against the President when he stole the election
26. change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
    • Turn towards me
    • The mugger turned and fled before I could see his face
    • She turned from herself and learned to listen to others' needs