Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of turning to face the opposite direction: A physical rotation or change in orientation.
   • A complete change, often for the better, in a situation or in someone's performance or behavior: A significant reversal or improvement.
   • The process of unloading, servicing, and reloading a vehicle (like a ship or aircraft) to prepare it for its return journey: The time or activity involved in preparing for a return trip.
   • The time required for this process: The duration needed to complete the servicing and preparation.
   • A space where a vehicle can turn around: An area designed for a vehicle to reverse its direction.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Physical Direction):

  • The truck made a quick turnaround in the parking lot.
  • The dancer executed a perfect turnaround on stage.

• Noun (Reversal or Improvement):

  • The company's financial turnaround was remarkable this quarter.
  • Her attitude showed a complete turnaround after the meeting.

• Noun (Vehicle/Ship Servicing):

  • The port aims for a 24-hour turnaround for container ships.
  • The airline improved its aircraft turnaround time to increase efficiency.

• Noun (Space for Turning):

  • There's a turnaround at the end of the cul-de-sac for cars.

Advanced Usage

• "Turnaround time": The total time taken between the start and completion of a process, especially in business or logistics.

  • Our standard turnaround time for this report is two business days.

• In business contexts: Often refers to a strategic recovery from poor performance.

  • The new CEO was hired to lead the corporate turnaround.

Variants and Related Words

• Turn about (phrasal verb): To reverse direction or position.
• Turn around (phrasal verb): To change to an opposite direction, opinion, or to improve a situation.
  • Please turn around and face me.
  • He managed to turn around the failing project.

Synonyms

• Reversal: A change to an opposite direction, position, or course of action.
• U-turn: A turn made by a vehicle to go back in the direction from which it came (often used metaphorically for policy changes).
• Recovery: A return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength; improvement.
• About-face: A complete change of attitude or opinion.

Related Phrases

• Quick turnaround: A very short time between receiving a task and completing it.

  • We need a quick turnaround on these edits.

• Turnaround strategy: A plan designed to reverse a company's decline.

  • The board approved a new turnaround strategy.

Idioms

• Do a 180 / Do a one-eighty: (Informal idiom) To make a complete turnaround or reversal.
  • After the criticism, he did a 180 on his proposal.

Noun

1. turning in the opposite direction
2. act or process of unloading and loading and servicing a vessel or aircraft for a return trip
3. an area sufficiently large for a vehicle to turn around
4. a decision to reverse an earlier decision
5. time need to prepare a vessel or ship for a return trip