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Definition of turn
transitive verb
1a : to cause to move around an axis or a center : make rotate or revolve turn a wheel turn a crankb (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 (something, such as a mechanical device) or the level of (something, such as sound) by such movement turn the oven to 400° turn the music to full volumec : to execute or perform by rotating or revolving turn handspringsd : to twist out of line or shape : wrench had turned his ankle
2a (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 (a scale) to move so as to register weightb : to revolve mentally : think over : ponder
3a : to reverse the sides or surfaces of : invert turn pancakes turn the shirt inside out: such as (1) : to dig or plow so as to bring the lower soil to the surface turn the compost weekly (2) : to make (a garment) over by reversing the material and resewing turn a collar (3) : to invert (something, such as a character, rule, or slug) feet up and face down in setting typeb : to reverse or upset the order or disposition of everything was turned topsy-turvyc : to disturb or upset the mental balance of : derange, unsettle a mind turned by griefd : to set in another especially contrary direction
4a : to bend or change the course of : divert a battle that turned the tide of historyb : to bend a course around or about : round turned the corner at full speedc : to cause to retreat used fire hoses to turn the mobd : to alter the drift, tendency, or expected result of
5a (1) : to direct or point (something, such as the face) in a specified way or direction (2) : to present by a change in direction or position turning his back to his guestsb : to direct (something, such as the attention or mind) toward or away from somethingc : to direct the employment of : apply, devote turned his skills to the service of humankindd (1) : to cause to rebound or recoil turns their argument against them (2) : to make antagonistic : prejudice turn a child against its mothere (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 dishf : to bring to bear (as by aiming, pointing, or focusing) : train turned the light into the dark doorway turned a questioning eye toward her
6a (1) : to make acid or sour (2) : to change the color of (foliage)b (1) : convert, transform turn defeat into victory (2) : translate, paraphrasec : to cause to become of a specified nature or appearance turned him into a frog embarrassment turned her face redd : to exchange for something else turn coins into paper moneye : to cause to defect to another side
7a : to shape especially in a rounded form by applying a cutting tool while revolving in a latheb : to give a rounded form to by any means turn the heel of a sockc : 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 pipeb : to cause (the edge of a blade) to bend back or over : blunt, dull
turn a blind eye
turn a deaf ear
turn a hair
turn color
turn heads
turn loose
turn one's back on
turn one's hand
orturn a hand
turn one's head
turn one's stomach
turn tail
turn the other cheek
turn the tables
turn the trick
turn turtle
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Examples of turn in a Sentence
He turned the key and opened the door.
She slowly turned the doorknob.
Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left.
Someone turned the switch and the lights came on.
They turned and walked away.
She turned to leave—but stopped.
He turned aside to let me pass.
The patient turned onto his side.
The photographer asked her to turn slightly to her left.
He turned himself around to see the back of his shirt in the mirror.
Recent Examples of turn from the Web
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In 2014, Blanton said Shkreli finally turned over $200,000 and gave him 160,000 restricted shares in Retrophin.
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In Mosul, the initial relief at liberation from IS’s reign of terror is already turning to grumbling.
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The break in the 12-inch pipe forced crews to turn off water to Terminal B. Crews worked through the night to get the water restored.
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After in-house attempts to recover the meetings from a computer hard drive failed, the county turned to a national data recovery firm, KrollOntrack, for help.
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So Segler, along with computer scientist Mike Preuss at Münster and Segler’s adviser Mark Waller, turned to AI.
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But for people in the community who are determined to see its reputation turned around, there's more reward than risk in opening a restaurant in West Louisville.
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After losing out on Gordon Hayward, the Heat now turn its attention to keeping Johnson and Waiters.
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Turning a buck off ABC ABC just settled a big defamation a month into a trial in Elk Point.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turn'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of turn
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 1throw
turn
Definition of turn
1a : the action or an act of turning about a center or axis : revolution, rotationb : any of various rotating or pivoting movements in dancing or gymnastics
2a : the action or an act of giving or taking a different direction : change of course or posture an illegal left turn: such as (1) : a drill maneuver in which troops in mass formation change direction without preserving alignment (2) : any of various shifts of direction in skiing (3) : an interruption of a curve in figure skatingb : a place at which something turns, turns off, or turns back : bend, curvec : deflection, deviationd : the action or an act of turning so as to face in the opposite direction : reversal of posture or course an about turn the turn of the tidee : a change effected by turning over to another side a turn of the cards
3 : an act or deed affecting another especially when incidental or unexpected one good turn deserves another
4a : a place, time, or opportunity accorded an individual or unit of a series in simple succession or in a scheduled order waiting her turn in lineb : a period of action or activity : go, spell took a turn at the pianoc : a period or tour of duty : shiftd : a short act or piece (as for a variety show); also : public appearance : performance makes frequent guest star turnse (1) : an event in any gambling game after which bets are settled (2) : the order of the last three cards in faro —used in the phrase call the turn
5a : an act of changing : alteration, modification a nasty turn in the weatherb : a change in tendency, trend, or drift hoped for a turn in his luck a turn for the better an unexpected turn of eventsc : the beginning of a new period of time : the time when one period changes to the next the turn of the century
6a : a fashioning of language or arrangement of words : manner of expression skillful turns of phraseb : distinctive quality or characterc : the shape or mold in which something is fashioned : cast
7 : a short trip out and back or round about took a turn through the park
8 : something that revolves around a center: such asa (1) : lathe (2) : a catch or latch for a cupboard or cabinet door operated by turning a handleb : a musical ornament consisting of a group of four or more notes that wind about the principal note by including the notes next above and next below
at every turn
by turns
in turn
on the turn
out of turn
to a turn
Examples of turn in a Sentence
You have to wait your turn in line.
Is it my turn yet?
Give the wheel another turn.
He tightened the screw with one last turn.
With a turn of the switch, the lights came back on.
Take a left-hand turn at the next intersection.
a quick turn of her head
Recent Examples of turn from the Web
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Our love affair with food has taken a drastic turn.
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Some poor herbivore got stuck in mud, died, and its rotten stink drew scores of Allosaurus here, which became trapped in turn.
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INDIANAPOLIS — The car straightened out around the turn at full throttle and Sebastien Bourdais lost control of the steering wheel.
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Other boats can also throw you off course, their wake trails causing you to misjudge a turn or suddenly veer in an unintended direction.
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By the turn of the new millennium, however, more than 20 years of continuous warfare had almost destroyed the canal’s capacity to pump water to the groves, all but killing what had once been a flourishing business.
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At the beginning of Monday’s Cabinet meeting — the first of Donald Trump’s presidency — Cabinet members took turns praising Trump and celebrating the administration’s accomplishments so far.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turn'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of turn
Middle English; partly from Anglo-French tur, tourn turning, circuit (from turner to turn); partly from Middle English turnen to turn
TURN Defined for English Language Learners
turn
playDefinition of turn for English Language Learners
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: to move around a central point
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: to cause your body or a part of your body to face a different direction
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: to cause (something or a side of something) to face an opposite or different direction
turn
Definition of turn for English Language Learners
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: an opportunity or responsibility to do or use something before or after other people
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: an act of turning something around a central point
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: an act of changing the direction that someone or something is facing or moving in
TURN Defined for Kids
Definition of turn for Students
turned
;turning
1 : to change in position usually by moving through an arc of a circle They turned and walked away. Turn the pancakes over.
2 : to change course or direction The road turns to the left.
3 : to move or direct toward or away from something We turned toward home.
4 : to become or cause to become a certain way The weather turned leaves red.
6 : to move or cause to move around a center : rotate The earth turns on its axis.
7 : to twist so as to bring about a desired end Turn the key to unlock the door.
8 : to go around We turned the corner.
turn down
turn off
turn on
turn out
turn over
turn tail
turn up
Definition of turn for Students
1 : the act of moving about a center Give the crank another turn.
2 : a change or changing of direction, course, or position Make a left turn.
3 : a place at which something changes direction a turn in the road
4 : a period of action or activity : spell I had my turn as guard.
5 : proper place in a waiting line or time in a schedule Take your turn.
6 : a change or changing of the general state or condition Business took a turn for the better.
7 : an act affecting another Do a friend a good turn.
8 : a short walk or ride They took a turn through the park.
at every turn
by turns
in turn
to a turn
Medical Dictionary
turn
playMedical Definition of turn
: to injure by twisting or wrenching turned his ankle
Law Dictionary
turn
Legal Definition of turn
: to have a specified decisive factor —used with on the first of the cases…turned on first amendment issues — K. A. Cohen
Learn More about turn
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for turn Spanish Central: Translation of turn Nglish: Translation of turn for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of turn for Arabic speakers
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