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turn
- 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 verb1 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 : ponder3 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 direction4 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 side7 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 verb1 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 lathe8of 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 color2 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 : discharge3: 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
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