Turn | Mean of turn in English Dictionary

/ˈtɚn/

• Verb
• to move around a central point
1. The Earth turns [=rotates, revolves] on its axis.
2. We spun the top and watched it turn around in circles.
3. He turned the key and opened the door.
4. She slowly turned the doorknob.
5. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left.
6. Someone turned the switch and the lights came on.
• to cause your body or a part of your body to face a different direction
1. They turned and walked away.
2. She turned to leave—but stopped.
3. She turned (around) to look at me.
4. They turned (away) from the gruesome sight.
5. He turned aside/sideways to let me pass.
6. The patient turned onto his side.
7. The photographer asked her to turn slightly to her/the left.
8. He turned himself around to see the back of his shirt in the mirror.
9. She turned her face away from the camera.
• to cause (something or a side of something) to face an opposite or different direction
1. Turn the picture (around) so that I can see it.
2. I think you should turn [=flip] the pancakes now.
3. Turn the page (over).
4. The tag says to turn the shirt inside out before washing it.
5. He turned up/down the collar of his jacket.
6. Before planting the seeds, she turned the soil. [=brought lower levels of soil to the surface by digging]
7. The plant's leaves had turned toward the window.

• to move in a particular direction and especially toward the left or right
1. A car turned into the driveway.
2. He ran down the street and turned toward the park.
3. Turn left at the next intersection.
4. Turn right onto Main Street.
5. Turn here.
6. He turned the light in the direction of the noise.
7. She turned the car into the driveway.
8. The bicyclists turned the corner [=they rode around the corner] at full speed.
• to begin to go in a different direction
1. The road turns sharply to the right up ahead.
2. The river turns east for a few miles and then continues south.
• to begin to move in the opposite direction
1. We're waiting for the tide to turn.
• to change into a different state or form
1. The leaves turn [=they change color] in the fall.
2. The milk has turned. [=it has become sour]
3. His luck turned, and he lost all his winnings.
4. The argument quickly turned into a fistfight.
5. The sofa can turn into a bed.
6. He has seen his little girl turn into a bright, beautiful woman.
7. Water turns to ice at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Her cereal had turned to mush.
9. The witch turned the prince into a frog.
10. The studio plans to turn the book into a movie.
11. There are plans to turn the old school into an apartment building.
12. The cold weather turned the water to ice.
13. Her stare, it was said, could turn men to stone.
• to change to a different state, condition, etc.
1. The milk has turned sour.
2. The weather turned cold overnight.
3. His hair was beginning to turn gray.
4. She turned red with embarrassment.
5. It was beginning to turn dark outside.
6. an actress turned director [=an actress who became a director]
7. Two of his teammates have decided to turn pro. [=to become professional athletes]
8. She was a spy who turned traitor [=became a traitor] and gave secret information to the enemy.
• to cause (someone or something) to change in a specified way
1. A drought would turn things from bad to worse for the farmers.
2. The events of his life had turned [=made] him bitter.
3. The sun turned her skin (a) golden brown.
• to reach a particular age
1. She turned two years old last week.
2. He moved away from home when he turned 20.
• to change the volume, temperature, channel, etc., of (something) by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.
1. Turn the TV to channel 4.
2. He turned the oven to 400 degrees.
3. The lights in the room had been turned low.
• to direct (your thoughts, attention, etc.) toward or away from something
1. He turned his thoughts to home. [=he began to think of home]
2. She turned her attention to the child.
3. I could not turn my mind away from the idea.
4. Their efforts were turned to defending the country's borders.
• to earn (a profit)
1. He turned a quick profit.
2. (chiefly Brit) people looking to turn a penny or two [=to earn a profit]
• to perform (a particular action)
1. The team turned a double play to end the inning.
2. She learned how to turn a cartwheel.
3. They were living on the streets and turning tricks [=taking money for sex] to survive.
• to form (a sentence, phrase, etc.) in a particular way
1. perfectly turned phrases
2. He knows how to turn a sentence.
• to injure (your ankle) by moving it in an unnatural way
1. She turned [=twisted] her ankle during the game.
• to create or shape (something) from a piece of wood or metal by using a special machine (called a lathe)
1. turn a set of table legs
• to stop supporting or being friendly to (someone or something)
1. The senator eventually turned against the war.
2. She turned against her best friend.
• to cause (someone) to stop being friendly toward (someone)
1. He tried to turn our friends against us.
• to use (something) in a way that harms (someone)
1. She started turning my argument against me.
2. He tried to turn her many years of experience in Washington against her. [=tried to persuade people that her experience was not a good thing]
• to cause a vehicle to travel in the opposite direction
1. We turned around in someone's driveway.
2. She turned the car around and drove back home.
• to change and become better or more successful
1. Recently, the company has turned around, and it should have a profitable year.
2. The economy should turn around soon.
• to change (something) in a way that makes it better or more successful
1. The new CEO has really turned the company around in the past year.
2. You need to turn your life around before it's too late.
• to act in an unexpected or surprising way by doing (something specified)
1. He just turned around and left school. [=he just suddenly left school]
2. You can't turn around and say that you don't want to go. I already bought the tickets!
• to refuse to allow (someone) to enter a place
1. All the seats were sold and a large crowd had to be turned away.
2. The homeless shelter will not turn away people in need.
3. We turn away hundreds of applicants each year.
• to move in the opposite direction in order to return to a place
1. The sun is setting. It's time to turn back.
2. It's too late to turn back. We have to keep going.
• to return to an earlier place or time
1. Turn back to the first page.
2. Once you start the process, there's no turning back. [=you must continue the process]
• to force (someone or something) to move in an opposite direction
1. They fought to turn back the enemy.
2. If I could turn back (the hands of) time [=return to a condition that existed in the past], I would.
• to force (someone or something) to return to a place
1. The refugees were turned back at the border.
• to lower the volume, temperature, etc., of something by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.
1. Please turn down the heat.
2. The lights in the restaurant were turned down low.
3. He turned the volume down on the TV. = He turned down the TV.
4. Turn the oven down to 325 degrees.
• to fold (something) down or back
1. She turned down the bedsheets.
2. He turned down the corner of the page.
• to say no to (someone or something) especially in a polite way
1. She turned the offer down.
2. They turned down our invitation.
3. I asked her out , but she turned me down.
• to enter a place by turning from a road or path
1. Here's the house. You can turn in up there.
• to go to bed
1. It's time to turn in.
• to give (something) to a person who will review or accept it
1. He turned in [=handed in] his application/resignation yesterday.
2. Students should turn their papers in on Thursday.
• to return (something that you have borrowed, found, etc.)
1. Please turn in [=return] the art supplies when you are finished with them.
2. She found a set of keys and turned them in to the secretary at the front desk.
3. Has anyone turned in a wallet recently?
4. The suspended officer was asked to turn in his badge and gun.
• to perform or produce (something)
1. She turned in [=gave] a fine performance.
2. The company has turned in a healthy profit for the third year running.
• to give control of (someone) to the police or some other authority
1. His own parents brought him to the police station and turned him in.
2. The escaped prisoner turned himself in (to the police). [=he went to the police and allowed himself to be arrested]
• to give information about the location of (someone who has committed a crime) to the police or some other authority
1. His girlfriend threatened to turn him in.
• to go in a direction that moves you away from a straight course or main road
1. They turned off onto the wrong road.
2. Turn off at the next exit.
• to stop the operation or flow of (something) by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.
1. She turned off the alarm/heat/lights/water.
2. Should I leave the TV on or turn it off?
• to cause a strong feeling of dislike in (someone)
1. People who smoke turn me off.
• to cause (something) to work or flow by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.
1. She turned on the lights/computer/radio/water.
2. We turned on the heat in the house.
3. He really knows how to turn on the charm. [=knows how to be charming]
4. She turned the tears on [=she started crying] to get their sympathy.
• to cause (someone) to feel excitement or enjoyment
1. What kind of music turns you on?
• to cause (someone) to use or become interested in (something) for the first time
1. She turned him on to water-skiing.
2. He was turned on to cocaine by an acquaintance.
• to attack or criticize (someone or something) in a sudden or unexpected way
1. The dog suddenly turned on its owner.
2. The rock star's fans began to turn on him.
• to be determined or decided by (something)
1. The outcome of the election turns on [=depends on] how well the candidates perform in the next debate.
• to have (something) as a main subject or interest
1. The discussion turned on the question of how the money should be spent.
• to use (something, such as a weapon) to harm, stop, or kill (someone or something)
1. Fire hoses were turned on the protesters.
2. He killed three people before turning the gun on himself. [=before shooting himself]
• to leave your home in order to participate in or do something
1. Few people turned out for the election.
2. Few people turned out to vote.
• to happen, end, or develop in a particular way
1. Despite some initial difficulties, everything turned out well.
2. Things don't always turn out the way you want them to.
3. As it/things turned out, I didn't need an umbrella after all.
• to become like (someone or something)
1. He didn't want to turn out like his father.
2. Nobody thought it would ever turn out like this.
• to cause (something) to face or point outward
1. She turned her feet out and bent down.
2. He stood with his feet turned out.
• to cause (a lamp, flashlight, etc.) to no longer produce light by pushing a button, moving a switch, etc.
1. Who turned out the lights?
• to produce (something)
1. The factory turns out parts for car engines.
2. They turn out a new CD almost every year.
• to cause (something, such as a pocket) to become inside out
1. He turned out his pockets to show that they were empty.
• to empty the contents of (something) especially for cleaning or organizing
1. She turned out the drawer.
2. He turned out the closet in search of his baseball glove.
• to force (someone) to leave a place or position
1. The landlord turned them out from/of the apartment for not paying the rent.
2. Voters are unhappy with the governor and want to turn her out.
• to dress (yourself or someone else) in a careful or fancy way
1. a handsomely turned out gentleman
2. She was turned out in a beautiful blue gown.
• to move and face the opposite direction
1. She turned over (in bed) to see what time it was.
2. The kayak turned over in the rapids.
• to cause (someone or something) to face the opposite direction
1. If you turn the paper over, you will find more math problems.
2. He turned over the baby onto her back.
3. (Brit) The boat ride turned over my stomach.
• to start to work
1. The engine would not turn over.
• to earn (a particular amount of money)
1. The store has been turning over $1,000 a week.
• to allow the other team to get possession of (a ball)
1. The quarterback has turned the ball over three times.
• to give the control or responsibility of (someone or something) to (someone)
1. I am turning the job over to you. [=I am giving you the job]
2. He turned the property over to his niece.
3. The case has been turned over to the district attorney.
4. The suspect was turned over to the police on Wednesday.
• to change the use of (something, such as land or a building)
1. She plans to turn over the land to growing wheat and barley.
• to think about (something) in order to understand it or make a decision
1. She kept turning over the problem in her mind, trying to find a solution.
• to change the channel on a television set
1. Turn over to channel 7.
• to make a mess of (a place) while robbing it
1. The shop has been turned over three times in the last year.
• to go to (someone or something) for support, information, etc.
1. I was all alone and had no one to turn to.
2. She became depressed and turned to drugs. [=began using drugs]
3. She turned to a friend for help.
4. He turned to the employment agency for support.
5. Turn to [=refer to] the handout for the exact figures.
• to become involved in or with (something)
1. He turned to a life of crime.
2. She sang rock music before turning to the blues.
• to begin to deal with (something different) as a topic
1. The conversation eventually turned to politics.
2. We should turn to the next item on the list.
• to turn the pages of a book, magazine, etc., until you have reached the desired or specified page
1. She turned ahead to the third chapter.
2. Please turn (over) to page 22 of your textbook.
• to be found usually unexpectedly
1. I'm sure your ring will turn up somewhere.
2. New evidence has turned up.
• to be found to be in a specified condition
1. The missing person eventually turned up dead.
2. He turned up missing at roll call. [=he was not present at roll call]
• to find or discover (something)
1. I'll let you know if I turn up anything interesting.
• to happen unexpectedly
1. Something is always turning up to prevent us from getting together.
• to arrive at a place
1. And who should turn up at the ceremony but John!
2. Things were looking bad, but he was sure someone would turn up to save him.
• to appear in a place
1. Her name is always turning up in the newspapers.
• to increase the volume, temperature, etc., of something by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.
1. I turned up the heat.
2. Please turn the volume up on the TV. = Please turn the TV up.
3. The oven was turned up to 400 degrees.
• to make (a skirt, a pair of pants, etc.) shorter
1. These pants need to be turned up a little.
• Noun
• an opportunity or responsibility to do or use something before or after other people
1. You have to wait your turn in line.
2. Is it my turn yet?
3. Can I please have/take a turn on your bike? [=can I have a chance to use your bike?]
4. Whose turn is it to do the dishes?
5. It's her turn to bat.
6. You've made me suffer in the past, so now it's your turn to suffer!
• an act of turning something around a central point
1. Give the wheel another turn.
2. He tightened the screw with one last turn.
3. With a turn of the switch, the lights came back on.
• an act of changing the direction that someone or something is facing or moving in
1. Take a left-hand turn at the next intersection.
2. I made a right turn [=I turned right] onto Main Street.
3. a quick turn of her head
• a change in the state or condition of something
1. The stock market took a sharp downward turn today.
2. The conversation suddenly took an unexpected turn when he announced that he was getting married.
3. Business took a turn for the worse/better. [=it became worse/better]
4. There has been a dramatic turn of events. [=something important and surprising has happened]
5. It's hard to follow all the twists and turns [=the surprising changes] of the plot.
• a place where a road connects to another road that goes in a different direction
1. I think we took a wrong turn. [=(Brit) turning]
• a place where a road, path, etc., changes direction
1. There is a dangerous turn up ahead.
2. The runners are coming down the straightaway and heading into the turn.
3. The road through the mountains has many twists and turns. [=curves and frequent changes of direction]
• an act that affects someone in a particular way
1. He did me a nasty turn.
2. You have done me a few good turns, so now let me help you.
3. One good turn deserves another. [=if someone does something nice for you, you should do something nice for that person]
• a public appearance or performance
1. The actor makes frequent guest turns on the show.
• a short walk or ride
1. They took a turn [=went for a stroll] through the park.
• a sudden feeling of being frightened
1. He startled me and gave me quite a turn.
• a sudden, short period of feeling slightly ill, faint, or dizzy
1. He had a turn and had to lie down.
• in a constant or continuous way
1. They opposed her at every turn.
• cooked, performed, etc., in a perfect way
1. The chicken was done to a turn.
• following one after another in a particular order
1. Each witness in turn gave his or her version of what happened.
2. The algae feed the fish, which in turn become food for larger sea animals.
• as a result
1. I supported him and expected that he, in turn, would support me.
• about to start changing
1. The political situation in the country is on the turn.
• not at the time you are expected to do something according to a set order
1. She rolled the dice out of turn. [=when it was not her turn]
• at a wrong or improper time or place
1. Excuse me for speaking out of turn [=for speaking when it is not proper for me to speak], but I don't believe you are treating him fairly.
• the beginning of a new century
1. We were discussing how Americans lived at the turn of the 19th/last century.
• a way of thinking
1. He has a philosophical/inquiring turn of mind.
2. Her turns of mind are revealed in her journals.
• a way of saying or describing something
1. a nice turn of phrase
• an increase in speed or progress
1. The horse gave an impressive turn of speed.