verb | noun
turnturn1 /tɚn/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1
YOUR BODY [intransitive] to move your body so that you are looking in a different direction: She turned and looked at me.turn around/away/to etc. Turn around and show me the back of the dress. She finally turned to Frank and spoke.turn to do something We all turned to watch the kids. Without a word, he turned on his heel and left the room (=turned away suddenly).2OBJECT [intransitive, transitive] to move something so that it is pointing or aiming in a different direction: Turn the plant so it’s facing the sun.turn something around/over etc. He turned the computer screen toward me. Come help me turn the mattress over. Turn the bottle upside down and shake it gently (=so that the top is facing downward). Turn the sweater inside out to wash it (=so that the outside surface is on the inside).3DIRECTION [intransitive, transitive] to go in a new direction when you are walking, driving, etc., or to make the vehicle you are using do this: turn into/off/left/right etc. We turned onto West Glen Road.turn right/left Turn left at the next light.turn something around/into etc. The driver didn’t have room to turn the bus around.4ROAD/PATH [intransitive] to curve in a particular direction: The road turns sharply at the top of the hill.5MOVE AROUND CENTRAL POINT [intransitive, transitive] to move around a central point, or make something move in this way: The train’s wheels started to turn.turn something I knocked and then turned the door knob.THESAURUStwist – to turn something around a central point using a circular movement: Just twist the cap to open the bottle.spin – to turn around and around very quickly, or to make something do this: Skaters were spinning on the ice.whirl – to turn again and again around a central point with a lot of speed and force, or to make something do this: White clouds of snow were whirled around by the strong winds.twirl – to turn again and again around a central point or to make something do this, especially as part of a dance or performance: Half a dozen couples were twirling to a waltz.swivel – to turn around while remaining in the same place, or to make something do this. Used about furniture or similar objects: I want a desk chair that swivels.rotate – to turn or move around a particular point: The Earth rotates every 24 hours.revolve – to move in a circular path around a central point: Earth revolves around the Sun.go around informal – to rotate or revolve: He lay in bed watching the fan above his head go around.6AGE [linking verb] to become a particular age: Mark will turn 32 in August.7COLOR a)[linking verb] to become a different color: The sky turned a pale orange as the sun set. I’m only 34, and my hair is already turning gray! b)[transitive] to make something become a different color: I got a perm that turned my hair green.► see thesaurus at become8SKIN COLOR [linking verb] if a person turns a particular color, his or her skin looks that color because he or she feels sick, embarrassed, etc.: I felt myself turn red with embarrassment.9PAGE [transitive] if you turn a page in a book, you move it so that you can read the next page → see also turn to10turn a/the corner a)to go around a corner when you are walking, driving, etc.: As Karo turned the corner he saw the girl heading toward him. b)to start to improve after a period of being in a bad condition: The team has turned a corner and is starting to play better.11turn nasty/sour/violent etc. to change to a worse condition or attitude, especially suddenly: The protest turned violent by late afternoon.12turn your back (on somebody/something) a)to refuse to help, support, or be involved with someone or something: He would never turn his back on another veteran. b)to turn so that your back is pointing toward someone or something: He turned his back on Shauna and walked to the window.13turn the tables (on somebody) to change a situation completely so that someone loses an advantage and you gain one: I was winning by ten points until she turned the tables on me.14turn a profit to make a profit: The company is not expected to turn a profit for two years.15WEATHER [linking verb] to change, especially becoming cold or worse: The weather turned cold and it started to rain.16ATTENTION/THOUGHTS ETC. a)[transitive] to direct your attention, your thoughts, a conversation, etc. from one person, thing, or subject to another: She tried to turn the conversation toward happier subjects.turn your attention/thoughts/efforts etc. to something Many investors have turned their attention to opportunities abroad. b)[intransitive] to be directed in this way: Joe’s thoughts turned to his days on the college football team.17turn something upside down a) (also turn something inside out) to search everywhere for something, in a way that makes a place very messy: I’ve turned the house upside down looking for that book! b) (also turn something on its head, turn something inside out) to do something that makes an organization, a set of rules, a way of understanding something, etc. change completely: Lukens’ theories have turned the financial world upside down.18TIME [linking verb] if it has turned a particular time, that time has just passed: “What time is it?” “It just turned 3.”19INJURY [transitive] if you turn your ankle, you twist it in a way that injures it20turn somebody/something loose to let a person or animal go free from a place: Someone turned three monkeys loose in the zoo.21an actor-turned-politician/housewife-turned-author etc. someone who has done one job and then does something so different that it is surprising: He is a movie star-turned-politician.22turn the tide (of something) to change the progress or development of something and make it go in the opposite direction: Their victory turned the tide of the war in North Africa.23turn tail (and run) informal to run away because you are too frightened to fight or attack: When they saw us coming with the police, they turned tail and ran.24turn a phrase to say or write something in a clever, interesting, funny, etc. way25turn (people’s) heads someone or something that turns people’s heads is considered surprising or impressive by a lot of people: He is a young artist who is turning heads in New York.26turn somebody’s head old-fashioned to be attractive in a romantic or sexual way to a particular person: She’s really turned Steve’s head.27SOIL [transitive] to break up land to prepare it for growing crops or for building something28MAKING BREAD [transitive always + adv./prep.] (also turn out) to pour dough from a container[Origin: 1000–1100 partly from Latin tornare to turn on a lathe; partly from Old French torner, tourner to turn] → see also turn a blind eye at blind1 (3), turn the other cheek at cheek (4), turn a deaf ear at deaf (4), somebody would turn/roll over in their grave at grave1 (2), turn your hand to something at hand1 (35), turn your nose up (at something) at nose1 (4), turn somebody’s stomach at stomach1 (4)turn against phrasal verb to start disliking someone or opposing a person or idea that you used to like or support, usually suddenly, or to make someone do this: turn somebody against somebody/something Brenda even tried to turn my sister against me.turn against somebody/something The public was starting to turn against the war.turn around phrasal verb1 to make something successful again after it has been unsuccessful: After I met him my whole life turned around.turn something around Jones is trying to turn the company around.2turn around and do something spoken to do or say something that is unexpected or seems unfair or unreasonable: He says he loves me and then turns around and asks me for $500.3every time somebody turns around... spoken very often or all the time: It seems like every time I turn around my manager is checking up on me.4turn something around to consider an idea in a different way, or change the words of something so that it has a different meaning: You could turn the question around and ask why we shouldn’t accept the offer.5turn something ↔ around to complete the process of making a product or providing a service: We can turn around 500 units by next week.turn away phrasal verb1turn somebody ↔ away to refuse to let someone into a place such as a theater or restaurant because there is no more space: The concert is sold out, and they are turning people away.2 turn (somebody ↔) away to refuse to give someone sympathy, help, or support: We never turn patients away, even if they don’t have money.turn away from somebody/something Lots of my friends have turned away from me since I got sick.turn back phrasal verb1 to go in the opposite direction: It’s getting late – maybe we should turn back.2turn somebody ↔ back to tell someone to go in the opposite direction, often because there is danger ahead: We got to the gates, and then the police turned us back.3 to return to doing something that you did before, or in the way you did it before: It’s too late to turn back now. We have to finish it.4turn back the clock a)to make a situation like it was at an earlier time, especially when that is worse than the way things are now: This bill turns back the clock on women’s rights. b)if you want to turn back the clock, you wish you had the chance to do something again, so you could do it better: I wish I had the power to turn back the clock and undo the past.turn down phrasal verb1turn something ↔ down to make a machine such as an oven, radio, etc. produce less heat, sound etc. OPP turn up: Could you turn down the air conditioning? It’s too cold in here.2turn something/somebody ↔ down to refuse an offer, request, or invitation: They offered me the job, but I turned it down.► see thesaurus at reject1turn in phrasal verb1turn something ↔ in to give back something you have borrowed or rented to a person in authority, or give him or her something you have found: We have to turn the bikes in by 6.turn something in to somebody My wallet was turned in to the police two days after it was stolen.2turn something ↔ in to give a piece of work to a teacher, your boss, etc. SYN hand in: If you don’t turn in the assignment, you won’t pass.3turn somebody ↔ in to tell the police who or where a criminal is: Conners drove to the station and turned himself in.4turn in something to produce a result, profit, etc.: The 18-year-old turned in a great performance in his first game.5 informal to go to bed: Well, I think I’ll turn in. I’ve got to get up early.turn into something phrasal verb1to become something different, or make someone or something do this: These growths could turn into cancer. Winter was turning into spring.turn somebody/something into something Stein turned the garage into an artist’s studio.► see thesaurus at become2to change by magic from one thing into another, or make something do this: At midnight the animals turned into people.turn somebody/something into something With a wave of her hand, the witch turned him into a frog.3days turned into weeks/months turned into years etc. used to say that time passed slowly while you waited for something to happen: Weeks turned into months, and still nobody had heard from Joe.turn off phrasal verb1turn something ↔ off to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, car, light, etc. stop operating by pushing a button, turning a key, etc. OPP turn on: Don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave.2turn something ↔ off to stop the supply of water, gas, etc. from flowing by turning a handle as far as possible OPP turn on: They turned the gas off for two hours.3 to leave one road, especially a large one, and drive along another one: turn off at/near etc. something Make sure you turn off at the second exit.turn off something We turned off the highway onto a city street. → see also turn-off4turn somebody ↔ off informal to do something that makes someone decide he or she does not like someone or something: Too much mess in the house will turn buyers off. → see also turn-off5turn somebody ↔ off informal to do something that makes someone feel that he or she is not attracted to you in a sexual way OPP turn on: He was wearing white socks, which really turns me off. → see also turn-offturn on phrasal verb1ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT turn something ↔ on to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a car, television, light, etc. start operating by pushing a button, turning a key, etc. OPP turn off: It’s so hot – why don’t you turn the fan on?2WATER/GAS turn something ↔ on to make the supply of water, gas, etc. start flowing from something by turning a handle OPP turn off: He turned on the gas and lit the stove.3ATTACK turn on somebody to suddenly attack someone or treat him or her badly, using physical violence or cruel words: Even dogs that are usually friendly can sometimes turn on people.4DEPEND turn on something if a situation, event, or argument turns on a particular thing or idea, it depends on that thing in order to work: The trial turned on one key issue: Did Mason know about the plan?5SEXUAL turn somebody on informal to make someone feel sexually excited → see also turn-on6INTEREST turn somebody on informal to make someone become interested in a product, idea, etc.: turn somebody on to something Reading “Scientific American” really turned me on to biology.7WEAPON turn something on on somebody/something to use a weapon, your anger, etc. against someone or something: Cranwell killed six people before turning the gun on himself.turn out phrasal verb1 to happen in a particular way, or to have a particular result, especially one that you did not expect: Don’t worry – I’m sure it will all turn out fine. The car turned out to be more expensive than we thought. It turns out that Nancy didn’t want to come anyway.2turn something ↔ out if you turn out a light, you stop the flow of electricity to it by pushing a button, pulling a string, etc. SYN turn off OPP turn on: Did you turn out the light in the bathroom?3 if people turn out for an event, they gather together to see it happen: turn out for How many people turned out for the parade?turn out to do something His whole family turned out to welcome him home. → see also turnout4turn something ↔ out to produce or make something: The factory turns out 300 units a day.5turn somebody ↔ out to force someone to leave a place, especially his or her home: If the man is found guilty, his family will be turned out on the street.6well/beautifully/badly etc. turned out dressed in good, beautiful, etc. clothes: Tyler is always well turned out.turn over phrasal verb1turn something ↔ over to give someone the right to own something, or the responsibility for something such as a plan, business, piece of property, etc.: turn something over to somebody Local police have turned the case over to the FBI.2turn somebody ↔ over to bring a criminal to the police or other official organization: turn somebody over to somebody He was so angry that he turned his son over to the authorities.3 if an engine turns over, it starts to work4turn over something if a business turns over a particular amount of money, it makes that amount in a particular period of time5turn over a new leaf to decide to change the way you behave and become a better person6turn something over in your mind to think about something carefully, considering all the possibilities: I kept turning the idea over in my mind.turn to somebody/something phrasal verb1to try to get help, advice, or sympathy from someone: turn to somebody/something for something She turned to her mother for advice.2to start to do or use something new, especially when you are in a difficult situation or need to solve a problem: We may have to turn to solar power to meet our energy needs in the future.turn to drink/drugs/crime etc. (=start to drink alcohol, take illegal drugs, etc. because you are in a difficult situation)3to look at a particular page in a book: Turn to page 655 for more information on this subject.4formal to change to a different form, condition, or attitude, or to make someone or something do this: The rain has turned to snow in the mountains. My frustration quickly turned to anger.turn somebody/something to something Cooking the apples too long will turn them to mush.5to begin discussing a new subject: I’d like to turn to the question of immigration control.turn up phrasal verb1turn something ↔ up to make a machine such as an oven, radio, etc. produce more heat, sound, etc. OPP turn down: If you’re cold, I can turn the heat up. Turn up the radio!2 to suddenly appear after having been lost or searched for: Don’t worry about the necklace. It’ll turn up.► see thesaurus at find13 to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is surprising: Stan’s mom turned up in a miniskirt.4 if an opportunity or situation turns up, it happens, especially when you are not expecting it: I’m ready to take any job that turns up.5turn something ↔ up to find something by thoroughly searching for it: The investigation turned up no evidence to support Wood’s claims.turn upon somebody/something phrasal verb formal to suddenly attack someone or treat him or her badly, using physical violence or cruel words SYN turn on verb | noun
turnturn2 ●●● S1 W2 noun 1CHANCE TO DO something the time when it is your chance, duty, or right to do something that a group of people are doing one after another: It’s your turn. Roll the dice.somebody’s turn to do something Whose turn is it to wash the dog?2take turns if two or more people take turns doing work or playing a game, they each do it one after the other in order to share work or play fairly: You’ll have to take turns on the swing.take turns doing something We take turns cooking dinner.3in turn a)as a result of something: Working outside can mean too much sun exposure, which in turn can lead to skin cancer. b)one after the other, especially in a particular order: The president spoke to each of us at the table in turn.4CHANGE DIRECTION [countable] a change in the direction you are moving: make a left/right turn Make a left turn at the light.5ROAD [countable] the place where one road goes in a different direction from another: Take the first turn on your right.6ACT OF TURNING something [countable] the act of turning something completely around a central point: Tighten the screw another two or three turns.7the turn of the century the time when one century ends and a new one begins: The population had doubled at the turn of the century (=by 2000, 1900 etc.). → see also turn-of-the-century8take a turn for the worse/better to suddenly become worse or better: The weather took a turn for the worse. She took a turn for the worse (=her health became worse) during the night.9turn of events a change in what is happening, especially an unusual one: We were amazed by the sudden turn of events.10a turn of phrase a)a particular way of saying something: Calling the palace “small and uninteresting” was a surprising turn of phrase. b)the ability to say things in a clever or funny way: She has a colorful turn of phrase.11at every turn if something happens at every turn, it happens again and again: Government officials demanded bribes from us at every turn.12speak/talk out of turn to say something you should not say in a particular situation, especially because you do not have enough authority to say it: I’m sorry. I was talking out of turn.13by turns literary if someone shows different feelings or qualities by turns, he or she changes from one to another: She had been by turns confused, angry, and finally jealous.14do somebody a good turn old-fashioned to do something that is helpful for someone15turn of mind literary the way that someone usually thinks or feels: a man with a scientific turn of mind16one good turn deserves another used to say that if someone does something nice for you, you should do something nice for him or her in return17give somebody a turn old-fashioned to frighten someone