1an act of moving something in a circular direction around an axis or point:a safety lock requiring four turns of the key
a bend or curve in a road, path, river, etc.:the twists and turns in the passageways
[mass noun] Cricket deviation in the direction of the ball when bouncing off the pitch:the spinners have already begun to extract a lot of turn
one round in a coil of rope or other material.
2a change of direction when moving:they made a left turn and picked up speed
a development or change in a situation:the latest turn of eventslife has taken a turn for the better
a time when one period of time ends and another begins:the turn of the century
a place where a road meets or branches off another; a turning:they were approaching the turn
a change of the tide from ebb to flow or vice versa:the turn of the tide
(the turn) the beginning of the second nine holes of a round of golf:he made the turn in one under par
3an opportunity or obligation to do something that comes successively to each of a number of people:it was his turn to speak
a short performance, especially one of a number given by different performers in succession:Lewis gave her best ever comic turnhe was asked to do a turn at a childrens' party
a performer giving a short performance:Malton’s comedy turn, Mark Poole, takes to the stage tonight in Cinderella
4a short walk or ride:why don’t you take a turn around the garden?
5 informal a shock:you gave us quite a turn!
a brief feeling or experience of illness:he has these funny turns
6the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products.
a profit made from the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products.
7 Music a melodic ornament consisting of the principal note with those above and below it.
ზმნა
Universal
1move or cause to move in a circular direction wholly or partly around an axis or point: [no object]:the big wheel was turning [with object]:I turned the key in the door and crept in
[with object] perform (a somersault or cartwheel):the boy shot up off the ground and turned a somersault in the air
[with object] twist or sprain (an ankle):Wright turned his ankle in the first minute of the game
2 [with object and adverbial] move (something) so that it is in a different position in relation to its surroundings or its previous position:we waited in suspense for him to turn the cards over
[no object] change the position of one’s body so that one is facing in a different direction:Charlie turned and looked at his friend
move (something) so as to be aimed or pointed in a particular direction:she turned her head towards methe government has now turned its attention to primary schools
change or cause to change direction: [no object, with adverbial of direction]:we turned round and headed back to the house
[no object] (of the tide) change from flood to ebb or vice versa:as the tide turned he finally managed to bring the barge into its berth
[with object] move (a page) over so that it is flat against the previous or next page:she turned a page noisily [no object]:turn to page five for the answer
fold or unfold (fabric or a piece of a garment) in the specified way:he turned up the collar of his coat
[with object] (usually as adjective turned) Printing set or print (a type or letter) upside down.
[with object] pass round (the flank or defensive lines of an army) so as to attack it from the side or rear:there was still the sea, by way of which the Persians hoped to turn all mountain or isthmus defence lines
[with object] archaic bend back (the edge of a blade) so as to make it blunt:thou hast also turned the edge of his sword
3change or cause to change in nature, state, form, or colour; become or make: [no object, with complement or adverbial]:she turned pale [with object and complement or adverbial]:cover potatoes with sacking to keep the light from turning them greenmost of the sugars are turned into alcohol
[with object and complement or adverbial] send or put into a specified place or condition:the dogs were turned loose on the crowd
[with object] pass the age or time of:I’ve just turned forty
[no object] (of leaves) change colour in the autumn:the chestnut leaves were turning
(with reference to the stomach) make or become nauseated: [with object]:the smell was bad enough to turn the strongest stomach
(with reference to milk) make or become sour.
4 [no object] (turn to) start doing or becoming involved with:in 1939 he turned to films in earnest
go on to consider next:we can now turn to another aspect of the problem
go to for help or information:who can she turn to?
have recourse to (something, especially something harmful):he turned to drink and drugs for solace
5 [with object] shape (something) on a lathe:the faceplate is turned rather than cast
give a graceful or elegant form to: (as adjective, with submodifier turned)a production full of so many finely turned words
6 [with object] make (a profit).
at every turn
on every occasion; continually:her name seemed to come up at every turn
by turns
one after the other; alternately:he was by turns amused and mildly annoyed by her
do someone a good (or bad) turn
do something that is helpful (or unhelpful) for someone:he was a friend of mine, and had done me some good turns over the previous few months
in turn
in succession; one after the other:everyone took it in turn to attack my work
(also in one's/its turn) used to convey that an action, process, or situation is the result of a previous one:he would shout until she, in her turn, lost her temper
start to act or behave in a better or more responsible way.
turn something over in one's mind
think about something thoroughly:he turned over in his mind what to say next
turn round and do (or say) something
informal used to convey that someone’s actions or words are perceived as unexpected or unwelcome:then she just turned round and said she wasn’t coming after all
refuse to allow someone to enter or pass through a place:tourists were turned away at the crossing points
turn back (or turn someone/thing back)
go (or cause someone or something to go) back in the direction in which they have come:they turned back before reaching the churchpolice turned back hundreds of cars
turn someone down
reject an offer or application made by someone:the RAF turned him down on medical grounds
turn something down
1reject something offered or proposed:his novel was turned down by publisher after publisher
2adjust a control on an electrical device to reduce the volume, heat, etc.:she turned the sound down
turn in
informal go to bed in the evening.
turn someone in
hand someone over to the authorities:police have appealed to his family and friends to turn him in
turn something in
give something to someone in authority:I’ve turned in my resignation
produce or achieve a particular score or a performance of a specified quality:he has turned in some useful performances for the under-21 and England B sides
turn into
become (a particular kind of thing or person); be transformed into:the slight drizzle turned into a downpourthat dream turned into a nightmarein the next instant he turned into a tiny mouse
turn someone/thing into
cause to become (a particular kind of thing or person); transform into:the town was turned into a thriving seaside destinationevery single good children 's book has been turned into a feature-length cartoon
turn off
leave one road in order to join another:they turned off the main roadwe turned off to the right
turn someone off
informal cause someone to feel bored, disgusted, or sexually repelled:the idea just turns me off
turn something off
stop the operation or flow of something by means of a tap, switch, or button:remember to turn off the gas
adjust a tap or switch in order to stop the operation or flow of something.
turn on
1suddenly attack physically or verbally:he turned on her with cold savagery
2have as the main topic or point of interest:for most businessmen, the central questions will turn on taxation
turn someone on
informal excite or stimulate the interest of someone, especially sexually:if that’s what turns you on that’s fine by me
turn something on
start the flow or operation of something by means of a tap, switch, or button:she turned on the TV
adjust a tap or switch in order to start the operation or flow of something:I turned the switch on
turn someone on to
informal cause someone to become interested or involved in (something, especially drugs):he turned her on to heroin
turn out
1prove to be the case:the job turned out to be beyond his rather limited abilities
2go somewhere in order to attend a meeting, vote, play in a game, etc.:over 75 per cent of the electorate turned out to vote
turn someone out
1eject or expel someone from a place:his landlord could turn him out at any time
2 Military call a guard from the guardroom.
3 (be turned out) be dressed in the manner specified:she was smartly turned out and as well groomed as always
turn something out
1extinguish a light:he turned out the light and groped his way through the doorway to the bed
2produce something:the plant takes 53 hours to turn out each car
3empty something, especially one’s pockets:Oliver turned out his pockets and spread out his loot on the ground
British clean out a drawer, room, etc. by taking out and reorganizing its contents.
4tip prepared food from a mould or other container.
turn over
(of an engine) start or continue to run properly:the engine turned over when we tried it with the starter handle
turn someone over to
deliver someone to the care or custody of (an authority):they turned him over to the police
turn something over
1cause an engine to run:remember to turn the engine over occasionally in the cold weather
2transfer control or management of something to someone else:a plan to turn the pub over to a new manager
3change the function or use of something:the works was turned over to the production of aircraft parts
4 informal rob a place:what about that girl’s bedroom that got turned over?
5(of a business) have a turnover of a specified amount:last year the company turned over £12 million
turn something round (or around)
1prepare a ship or aircraft for its return journey:cleanliness also shortens the time it takes to turn a ship round
2reverse the previously poor performance of an organization and make it successful:the combination of skills and commitment in a workforce can turn a company round
turn up
1be found, especially by chance, after being lost:all the missing documents had turned up
2put in an appearance; arrive:half the guests failed to turn up
turn something up
1increase the volume or strength of sound, heat, etc. by turning a knob or switch on a device:she turned the sound up
2reveal or discover something:New Yorkers confidently expect the inquiry to turn up nothing
