Collins English-English Dictionary

turn [t3ːn]

1. 1. vb to move or cause to move around an axis

   a wheel turning

   to turn a knob

2. 2. vb [sometimes foll by round] to change or cause to change positions by moving through an arc of a circle

   he turned the chair to face the light

3. 3. vb to change or cause to change in course, direction, etc

   he turned left at the main road

4. 4. vb (of soldiers, ships, etc) to alter the direction of advance by changing direction simultaneously or (of a commander) to cause the direction of advance to be altered simultaneously

5. 5. vb to go or pass to the other side of (a corner, etc)

6. 6. vb to assume or cause to assume a rounded, curved, or folded form

   the road turns here

7. 7. vb to reverse or cause to reverse position

8. 8. vt. [tr] to pass round (an enemy or enemy position) so as to attack it from the flank or rear

   the Germans turned the Maginot line

9. 9. vt. [tr] to perform or do by a rotating movement

   to turn a somersault

10. 10. vt. [tr] to shape or cut a thread in (a workpiece, esp one of metal, wood, or plastic) by rotating it on a lathe against a fixed cutting tool

11. 11. vt. [when intr, foll by into or to] to change or convert or be changed or converted

    the alchemists tried to turn base metals into gold

12. 12. vt. [foll by into] to change or cause to change in nature, character, etc

    the frog turned into a prince

13. 13. vt. [copula] to change so as to become

    he turned nasty when he heard the price

14. 14. vt. to cause (foliage, etc) to change colour or (of foliage, etc) to change colour

    frost turned the trees a vivid orange

15. 15. vt. to cause (milk, etc) to become rancid or sour or (of milk, etc) to become rancid or sour

16. 16. vt. to change or cause to change in subject, trend, etc

    the conversation turned to fishing

17. 17. vt. to direct or apply or be directed or applied

    he turned his attention to the problem

18. 18. vi. [intr; usually foll by to] to appeal or apply (to) for help, advice, etc

    she was very frightened and didn't know where to turn

19. 19. vi. to reach, pass, or progress beyond in age, time, etc

    she has just turned twenty

20. 20. vt. [tr] to cause or allow to go

    to turn an animal loose

21. 21. vt. to affect or be affected with nausea

    the sight of the dead body turned his stomach

22. 22. vt. to affect or be affected with giddiness

    my head is turning

23. 23. vt. [tr] to affect the mental or emotional stability of (esp in the phrase turn (someone's) head)

24. 24. vt. [tr] to release from a container

    she turned the fruit into a basin

25. 25. vt. [tr] to render into another language

26. 26. vt. [usually foll by against or from] to transfer or reverse or cause to transfer or reverse (one's loyalties, affections, etc)

27. 27. vt. [tr] to cause (an enemy agent) to become a double agent working for one's own side

    the bureau turned some of the spies it had caught

28. 28. vt. [tr] to bring (soil) from lower layers to the surface

29. 29. vt. to blunt (an edge) or (of an edge) to become blunted

30. 30. vt. [tr] to give a graceful form to

    to turn a compliment

31. 31. vt. [tr] to reverse (a cuff, collar, etc) in order to hide the outer worn side

32. 32. vi. [intr] [US] to be merchandised as specified

    shirts are turning well this week

33. 33. vi. [cricket] to spin (the ball) or (of the ball) to spin

34. 34. vi. See table

35. 35. n an act or instance of turning or the state of being turned or the material turned

    a turn of a rope around a bollard

36. 36. n a movement of complete or partial rotation

37. 37. n a change or reversal of direction or position

38. 38. n direction or drift

    his thoughts took a new turn

39. 39. n a deviation or departure from a course or tendency

40. 40. n the place, point, or time at which a deviation or change occurs

41. 41. n another word for turning

42. 42. n the right or opportunity to do something in an agreed order or succession

    we'll take turns to play

    now it's George's turn

    you must not play out of turn

43. 43. n a change in nature, condition, etc

    his illness took a turn for the worse

44. 44. n a period of action, work, etc

45. 45. n a short walk, ride, or excursion

    to take a turn in the park

46. 46. n natural inclination

    he is of a speculative turn of mind

    she has a turn for needlework

47. 47. n distinctive form or style

    a neat turn of phrase

48. 48. n requirement, need, or advantage

    to serve someone's turn

49. 49. n a deed performed that helps or hinders someone

    to do an old lady a good turn

50. 50. n a twist, bend, or distortion in shape

51. 51. n [music] a melodic ornament that makes a turn around a note, beginning with the note above, in a variety of sequences

52. 52. n [theatre] [chiefly Brit] a short theatrical act, esp in music hall, cabaret, etc

53. 53. n [stock exchange] [Brit] the difference between a market maker's bid and offer prices, representing the market maker's profit

54. 54. n a transaction including both a purchase and a sale

55. 55. n a military manoeuvre in which men or ships alter their direction of advance together

56. 56. n [Austral] [Slang] a party

57. 57. n [Spoken] a shock or surprise

    the bad news gave her quite a turn

58. 58. n See also turn against turn away turn down turn in turn off turn on turn out turn over turn to turn up

59. 59. n [Etymology] Old English tyrnian, from Old French torner, from Latin tornare to turn in a lathe, from tornus lathe, from Greek tornos dividers