turret

noun

tur·​ret ˈtər-ət 

ˈtə-rət, 

ˈtu̇r-ət 

1

: a little tower

specifically : an ornamental structure at an angle of a larger structure

2

a(1)

: a revolving armored structure on a warship that protects one or more guns mounted within it

(2)

: a similar upper structure usually for one gun on a tank

(3)

: a gunner's fixed or movable enclosure in an airplane

b

: a tall building usually moved on wheels and formerly used for carrying soldiers and equipment for breaching or scaling a wall

3

a

: a pivoted and revolvable holder in a machine tool

b

: a device (as on a microscope or a television camera) holding several lenses

Examples of turret in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its camera turret can pan 270 degrees and tilt more than 120 degrees. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Masked men carried what looked like gun cases into the pen and entered the castle’s turrets. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

China Arms, which also covered the event, described crews handling ammunition inside the turret and tanks firing while stationary and moving, including shots to the side and rear. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

The rest of the house, besides the turret, is just a regular peaked-roof stucco place. — Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English touret, from Anglo-French turette, tourette, diminutive of tur, tour tower — more at tower

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for turret

• urate

Kids Definition

turret

noun

tur·​ret ˈtər-ət  ˈtə-rət 

tu̇r-ət

1

: a little tower often at a corner of a building

2

: a low usually rotating structure (as in a tank, warship, or airplane) in which guns are mounted