Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mechanical gate or barrier consisting of rotating horizontal arms fixed to a central post, allowing people to pass through one at a time, typically used to control entry to a place, count people, or ensure a ticket is presented.

Usage

• A turnstile is used to regulate the flow of people, often in places requiring admission control, such as subway stations, stadiums, amusement parks, or secure buildings.
• It functions by allowing a person to push through the rotating arms, which then lock until the next valid action (like ticket validation or a coin deposit) allows them to rotate again for the next person.

Examples

• Noun:
  • You must insert your ticket into the slot to unlock the turnstile and enter the subway platform.
  • Security installed new turnstiles at the main entrance to the office building.

Advanced Usage

• "to pass through the turnstile": to go through this type of gate.
  • Over ten thousand fans passed through the turnstiles before the game.
• "turnstile data": statistical information collected from turnstile counts, such as attendance figures.
  • The museum's annual report is based on turnstile data.

Variants and Related Words

• Turnstyle (noun): An uncommon, older, or occasional variant spelling of "turnstile."
• Turnstile Jumping (noun phrase): The act of illegally entering a transit system by crossing a turnstile without paying.
  • The police officer issued a fine for turnstile jumping.

Synonyms

• Rotating gate: A descriptive synonym.
• Barrier gate: A more general term for a gate that controls passage.

Related Phrases

• "Click through the turnstile": A phrase sometimes used in digital analytics by analogy, meaning to proceed through a virtual checkpoint or step in an online process.

Noun

1. a gate consisting of a post that acts as a pivot for rotating arms; set in a passageway for controlling the persons entering