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Turn Very Common

Turn has 41 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

a circular segment of a curve

"a bend in the road"

"a crook in the path"

2

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

"he took a turn to the right"

3

(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession

"it is my turn"

"it is still my play"

4

an unforeseen development

"events suddenly took an awkward turn"

5

a movement in a new direction

"the turning of the wind"

6

the act of turning away or in the opposite direction

"he made an abrupt turn away from her"

7

turning or twisting around (in place)

"with a quick twist of his head he surveyed the room"

8

a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

"it's my go"

"a spell of work"

9

(sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

"The coach yelled from the sideline as our team took their turn to score against the defense."

10

a short performance that is part of a longer program

"he did his act three times every evening"

"she had a catchy little routine"

"it was one of the best numbers he ever did"

11

a favor for someone

"he did me a good turn"

12

taking a short walk out and back

"we took a turn in the park"

13

A change of direction or orientation.

"As we reached the fork in the road, I had to turn left to avoid getting lost."

In plain English: A turn is your chance to do something or take your place in line.

"The turn signal on my car is broken."

Verb
1

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

"Turn towards me"

"The mugger turned and fled before I could see his face"

"She turned from herself and learned to listen to others' needs"

2

undergo a transformation or a change of position or action

"We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"

"The people turned against the President when he stole the election"

3

undergo a change or development

"The water turned into ice"

"Her former friend became her worst enemy"

"He turned traitor"

4

cause to move around or rotate

"turn a key"

"turn your palm this way"

5

change to the contrary

"The trend was reversed"

"the tides turned against him"

"public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern"

6

pass to the other side of

"turn the corner"

"move around the obstacle"

7

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

"The weather turned nasty"

"She grew angry"

8

let (something) fall or spill from a container

"turn the flour onto a plate"

9

move around an axis or a center

"The wheels are turning"

10

cause to move around a center so as to show another side of

"turn a page of a book"

11

to send or let go

"They turned away the crowd at the gate of the governor's mansion"

12

to break and turn over earth especially with a plow

"Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week"

"turn the earth in the Spring"

13

shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel

"turn the legs of the table"

"turn the clay on the wheel"

14

change color

"In Vermont, the leaves turn early"

15

twist suddenly so as to sprain

"wrench one's ankle"

"The wrestler twisted his shoulder"

"the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell"

"I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days"

16

cause to change or turn into something different;assume new characteristics

"The princess turned the frog into a prince by kissing him"

"The alchemists tried to turn lead into gold"

17

accomplish by rotating

"turn a somersault"

"turn cartwheels"

18

get by buying and selling

"the company turned a good profit after a year"

19

cause to move along an axis or into a new direction

"turn your face to the wall"

"turn the car around"

"turn your dance partner around"

20

channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention toward or away from something

"The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction"

"people turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium"

21

cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form

"bend the rod"

"twist the dough into a braid"

"the strong man could turn an iron bar"

22

alter the functioning or setting of

"turn the dial to 10"

"turn the heat down"

23

direct at someone

"She turned a smile on me"

"They turned their flashlights on the car"

24

have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to

"She called on her Representative to help her"

"She turned to her relatives for help"

25

go sour or spoil

"The milk has soured"

"The wine worked"

"The cream has turned--we have to throw it out"

26

become officially one year older

"She is turning 50 this year"

27

To make a non-linear physical movement.

"After walking straight down the long corridor, he had to turn sharply left at the end of the hall."

28

Of a body, person, etc, to move around an axis through itself.

"When I try to spin on my toes for balance, my knees often buckle and I can't keep myself from turning too quickly."

In plain English: To turn means to change direction or rotate around an axis.

"Please turn left at the next intersection."

Usage: Use this verb when describing something rotating on its own center or changing direction by pivoting rather than moving in a straight line. It is the standard choice for actions like turning a doorknob or spinning a wheel, distinct from simply walking away or shifting position without rotation.

Example Sentences
"The turn signal on my car is broken." noun
"Please turn left at the next intersection." verb
"She decided to turn off the lights before leaving the room." verb
"Please turn left at the next intersection to find the bank." verb
"He will turn twenty-five next month and soon be eligible for voting." verb
Related Terms
direction left twist right page movement change rotate go change direction left right spin around action driving corner car rotation move curve
Antonyms
unbend
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
curve change of course activity development movement change of direction rotation shift part performance favor walk move change transform travel transmit send till shape turn discolor injure do get change shape operate aim appeal change state senesce
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
bight diversion right left kick turn stem turn telemark swerve three-point turn version move start innings attack down bat lead ruff trick reversal yaw rotation return volution twiddle top bottom show-stopper twist flip turn on a dime roll roll over swing around port face turn off turn away gee about-face caracole corner overturn bend deflect avert turn out rotate pivot gyrate corkscrew deviate pronate wake up zonk out come to tense relax reduce gain dress cross-fertilize conceive secularize citrate equilibrate fall become worsen better disengage overgrow concentrate break acidify alkalize ionize ossify catalyze get worse fluctuate explode die be born cloud over carbonize cool heat freeze boil burn emaciate Frenchify thin thicken solvate react dissolve empty fill homogenize curdle clot sour integrate precipitate calcify coke carnify chondrify emulsify denitrify esterify etherify thrombose open close sorb calm thrive emancipate get into liquefy erupt suffocate nucleate come reorient supinate interchange turn the tables commutate switch over correct falsify permute metamorphose revert desynchronize desecrate undo bald turn deflate throw revolve evert leaf ridge harrow bring about take up indent incurvate gnarl crank convolve

Origin

The word "turn" comes from the Old English verb tyrnan, which originally meant to rotate or revolve something in a lathe. This meaning traveled into modern English through Middle English and ultimately traces back to Ancient Greek for a turning tool used to make circles.

Rhyming Words
urn gurn kurn durn ourn burn tourn churn bourn mourn yourn inurn spurn upturn caburn auburn beturn deturn inturn woburn
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