Main Entry: ¹turn

Pronunciation: \ˈtərn\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English; partly from Old English tyrnan & turnian to turn, from Medieval Latin tornare, from Latin, to turn on a lathe, from tornus lathe, from Greek tornos; partly from Anglo-French turner, tourner to turn, from Medieval Latin tornare; akin to Latin terere to rub — more at throw

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 a : to cause to move around an axis or a center : make rotate or revolve <turn a wheel> <turn a crank> b (1) : to cause to move around so as to effect a desired end (as of locking, opening, or shutting) <turned the knob till the door opened> (2) : to affect or alter the functioning of (as a mechanical device) or the level of (as sound) by such movement <turn the oven to 400°> <turn the music to full volume> c : to execute or perform by rotating or revolving <turn handsprings> d : to twist out of line or shape : wrench <had turned his ankle>
2 a (1) : to cause to change position by moving through an arc of a circle <turned her chair to the fire> (2) : to cause to move around a center so as to show another side of <turn the page> (3) : to cause (as a scale) to move so as to register weight b : to revolve mentally : think over : ponder
3 a : to reverse the sides or surfaces of : invert <turn pancakes> <turn the shirt inside out>: as (1) : to dig or plow so as to bring the lower soil to the surface <turn the compost weekly> (2) : to make (as a garment) over by reversing the material and resewing <turn a collar> (3) : to invert feet up and face down (as a character, rule, or slug) in setting type b : to reverse or upset the order or disposition of <everything was turned topsy-turvy> c : to disturb or upset the mental balance of : derange, unsettle <a mind turned by grief> d : to set in another especially contrary direction
4 a : to bend or change the course of : divert <a battle that turned the tide of history> b : to cause to retreat <used fire hoses to turn the mob> c : to alter the drift, tendency, or expected result of d : to bend a course around or about : round <turned the corner at full speed>
5 a (1) : to direct or point (as the face) in a specified way or direction (2) : to present by a change in direction or position <turning his back to his guests> b : to bring to bear (as by aiming, pointing, or focusing) : train <turned the light into the dark doorway> <turned a questioning eye toward her> c : to direct (as the attention or mind) toward or away from something d : to direct the employment of : apply, devote <turned his skills to the service of humankind> e (1) : to cause to rebound or recoil <turns their argument against them> (2) : to make antagonistic : prejudice <turn a child against its mother> f (1) : to cause to go in a particular direction <turned our steps homeward> (2) : drive, send <turn cows to pasture> <turning hunters off his land> (3) : to convey or direct out of an inverted receptacle <turn the mixture into a baking dish>
6 a (1) : to make acid or sour (2) : to change the color of (as foliage) b (1) : convert, transform <turn defeat into victory> (2) : translate, paraphrase c : to cause to become of a specified nature or appearance <turned him into a frog> <embarrassment turned her face red> d : to exchange for something else <turn coins into paper money> e : to cause to defect to another side
7 a : to shape especially in a rounded form by applying a cutting tool while revolving in a lathe b : to give a rounded form to by any means <turn the heel of a sock> c : to shape or mold artistically, gracefully, or neatly <a well turned phrase>
8 : to make a fold, bend, or curve in: a : to form by bending <turn a lead pipe> b : to cause (the edge of a blade) to bend back or over : blunt, dull
9 a : to keep (as money or goods) moving; specifically : to dispose of (a stock) to make room for another b : to gain in the course of business <turning a quick profit> c : to make use of <turned her education to advantage> d : to carry to completion : pull off <turned a double play> <turn a deal>
10 : to engage in (an act of prostitution) <turn tricks>intransitive verb 1 a : to move around on an axis or through an arc of a circle : rotate b : to become giddy or dizzy : spin <heights always made his head turn> c (1) : to have as a decisive factor : hinge <the argument turns on a point of logic> <the outcome of the game turned on an interception> (2) : to have a center (as of interest) in something specified <the discussion turned on the overall worth of the project> (3) : to become focused on something specified <the conversation turned to baseball>
2 a : to direct one's course b (1) : to reverse a course or direction <the tide has turned> (2) : to have a reactive usually adverse effect c : to take a different course or direction <turned toward home> <the main road turns sharply to the right>
3 a : to change position (as of one's head) so as to face another way <everyone turned to stare> b : to face toward or away from someone or something <flowers turn toward the light> c : to change one's attitude or reverse one's course of action to one of opposition or hostility <felt the world had turned against him> d : to make a sudden violent assault especially without evident cause <dogs turning on their owners>
4 a : to direct one's attention to or away from someone or something b (1) : to change one's religion (2) : to go over to another side or party : defect c : to have recourse : refer, resort <turned to a friend for help> <turned to his notes for the exact figures> d : to direct one's efforts or activity : devote or apply oneself <turned to the study of the law> <turned to a life of crime>
5 a : to become changed, altered, or transformed <the weather turned>: as (1) archaic : to become different (2) : to change color <the leaves have turned> (3) : to become sour, rancid, or tainted <the milk had turned> (4) : to be variable or inconstant (5) : to become mentally unbalanced : become deranged b (1) : to pass from one state to another : change <water had turned to ice> (2) : become, grow <his hair had turned gray> <the weather turned bad> <just turned twenty> (3) : to become someone or something specified by change from another state : change into <turn pro> <doctors turned authors> (4) : to change by the passage of time <days turned into weeks and months>
6 : to become curved or bent (as from pressure); especially : to become blunted by bending <the edge of the knife had turned>
7 : to operate a lathe
8 of merchandise : to be stocked and disposed of : change hands

— turn·able \ˈtər-nə-bəl\ adjective

— turn a blind eye : to refuse to see : be oblivious <might turn a blind eye to the use of violence — Arthur Krock>

— turn a deaf ear : to refuse to listen

— turn a hair : to give a sign of distress or disturbance <did not turn a hair when told of the savage murder — Times Literary Supplement>

— turn color 1 : to become of a different color
2 a : blush, flush b : to grow pale

— turn heads : to attract favorable attention <the car's sleek design is bound to turn heads>

— turn loose 1 a : to set free <turned loose the captured animal> b : to free from all restraints <turned them loose with a pile of theme paper to write whatever they liked — Elizabeth P. Schafer>
2 : to fire off : discharge
3 : to open fire

— turn one's back on 1 : reject, deny <would be turning one's back on history — Pius Walsh>
2 : forsake <turned his back on his obligations>

— turn one's hand or turn a hand : to set to work : apply oneself

— turn one's head : to cause to become infatuated or conceited <success had not turned his head>

— turn one's stomach : to disgust completely : sicken, nauseate <the foul smell turned his stomach>

— turn tail : to turn away so as to flee <turned tail and ran>

— turn the other cheek : to respond to injury or unkindness with patience : forgo retaliation

— turn the tables : to bring about a reversal of the relative conditions or fortunes of two contending parties

— turn the trick : to bring about the desired result or effect

— turn turtle : capsize, overturn