turn
noun
Definitions of turn noun
opportunity
- B1Countable
an opportunity or a duty to do something at a particular time or in a particular order, before or after other people
Is it my turn yet?
I waited so long for my turn to see the careers adviser that I missed my bus.
It's your turn to do the dishes!
movement
- Countable
an action that causes something to move in a circle round a fixed point
Give the screw a couple of turns to make sure it's tight.
direction
- B2Countable
a change in the direction in which you are moving or facing
When you see the school on the left, make a right turn.
The path was full of twists and turns.
entertainment
- Countable
a stage act or performance
The first couple of turns were children singing and dancing.
health
- Countableold-fashioned
a slight illness, a strange feeling, or a nervous shock
After the accident I started having funny turns.
It gave me quite a turn to see him after all these years.
Phrases of turn noun
- on the turn
Used to describe something that is about to change or shift direction.
• With the change in policy, the economic situation is on the turn.
- take turns
When a group of people take turns, they perform the same action in sequence, one after another.
• We take turns using the computer.
- take a ... turn
To change or develop in a particular direction or manner.
• The project took a dramatic turn in its final phase.
- in turn
Following a pre-arranged sequence, one after another.
• The students presented their projects in turn.
- the turn of something
The point at which a change in direction or condition occurs.
• At the turn of the economic recession, the government implemented new fiscal policies.
- take a turn for the better/worse
To experience a sudden shift, either positively or negatively, in condition or circumstances.
• Since the company implemented the new management policies, morale has taken a turn for the better.
verb
Definitions of turn verb
movement
- B2TransitiveIntransitive
to (cause to) move in a circle around a fixed point or line
The earth turns on its axis once every 24 hours.
She turned on her toes, holding out her skirt.
The wheels started to turn (around).
direction
- A2TransitiveIntransitive
to (cause to) change the direction in which you are facing or moving
Turn right at the traffic lights.
The path twists and turns for the next half mile.
We have to turn down/into/up the next road on the right.
position
- B1TransitiveIntransitive
to move, or to move an object or page, so that a different side or surface is on the top
Now turn the page, please, and start work on Exercise 2.
She turned the vase over to look for the price.
He turned over two or three pages.
change
- B2TransitiveIntransitiveLinking verbVerb + adv/prep
to (cause to) become, change into, or come to be something
The weather has suddenly turned cold.
When I refused to pay, he turned nasty.
She turned pale and started to shiver.
control
- A2TransitiveIntransitiveVerb + adv/prep
to use a control to switch a piece of equipment or a power or water supply on or off, or to increase or reduce what it is producing
Turn off/out the light.
Who turned the TV on?
I asked him to turn down the heating.
craft
- Transitiveengineeringspecialized
to shape a piece of wood while it is attached to a machine that spins it
a turned bowl
Phrases of turn verb
- turn your ankle
To injure the muscles in the ankle by twisting it abruptly and forcefully.
• She turned her ankle while running and had to stop to rest.
- turn 16, nine o'clock, etc.
To reach a specific age or time.
• He's turning fifty this year.
Idioms
- turn a deaf ear
To deliberately ignore someone's complaints or requests; to refuse to pay attention.
• Despite my repeated expressions of concern, the manager turned a deaf ear to my feedback.
- turn a blind eye
To deliberately ignore something that one knows to be wrong or inappropriate.
• The company supervisor often turns a blind eye to minor disputes between employees.
- One good turn deserves another
This idiom is used to express that a helpful or kind act should be repaid with another act of kindness or assistance.
• I helped you move, so when you need something, I'll be happy to help.
- turn your nose up
To reject something because one believes it is not good enough or of insufficient quality.
• She turned her nose up at the used car, saying she would only drive a brand new one.
- turn the spotlight on something
To direct attention towards something, often to highlight or reveal negative information or issues.
• The investigation turned the spotlight on the company's financial irregularities.
- turn the corner
To improve after a period of difficulty or decline.
• After years of losses, the company has finally turned the corner.
- turn over a new leaf
to make a fresh start by changing one's behavior for the better
• After realizing his mistakes, he resolved to turn over a new leaf and become a better person.
- turn your hand to something
To be able to do something well, despite having no prior experience.
• He seems able to turn his hand to anything; he is such a versatile person.
- turn the clock back
To attempt to return to a previous state or situation.
• Despite their attempts to turn the clock back, the relationship could never be the same again.
- turn tail
to abruptly retreat or flee, often due to fear or a perceived threat.
• They turned tail and ran the moment the enemy forces approached.
- turn the other cheek
To choose not to retaliate or seek revenge when someone has wronged you; to forgive or endure an offense.
• She always chooses to turn the other cheek when faced with criticism, not engaging in arguments.
- not turn a hair
To show no visible emotional reaction or distress when confronted with something unpleasant or disturbing.
• She didn't turn a hair when she found out she had been fired, it was unbelievable.
- turn something on its head
To completely reverse the direction or understanding of something, making it the opposite of what it was.
• This innovative technology has turned traditional manufacturing models on their head.
- at every turn
Used to describe an unpleasant situation that occurs repeatedly or consistently whenever one attempts to do something.
• In his entrepreneurial journey, he faced obstacles at every turn, encountering numerous difficulties.
- turn your back on something
To stop being involved in or supporting something; to ignore or reject something.
• The government cannot turn its back on the need for education.
- turn your back on someone
To refuse to help or support someone; to abandon or ignore someone in need.
• Despite their past friendship, he turned his back on her when she needed help.
- turn someone's head
To cause someone to become arrogant or conceited, thereby affecting their behavior.
• Fame hasn't turned his head; he's still remarkably humble.
- turn someone's stomach
To cause a feeling of nausea or disgust, often due to anger or displeasure.
• His selfish and self-serving behavior really turns my stomach.
- turn (something) upside down
To search thoroughly for something, often resulting in a state of disarray.
• They turned the entire house upside down, but still couldn't find the keys.
- turn the tables on someone
To reverse a situation, gaining an advantage over someone who previously had an advantage over you.
• The team, initially considered to be at a disadvantage, turned the tables in the final match and won.
- a good/bad turn
An action that either helps or harms someone.
• He fixed my bike, which was a good turn for me.
- a turn of the screw
an action that worsens an already difficult situation, especially by forcing someone to do something.
• The company's decision to cut benefits for all employees was another turn of the screw.
- cooked/done to a turn
Cooked for the precise amount of time needed; perfectly cooked.
• This steak was cooked to a turn, it's delicious.
- one good turn deserves another
This idiom is used to express that a kind or helpful act should be reciprocated, especially towards someone who has previously done something beneficial.
• Since John lent me his car when I needed it, I should definitely help him move when he needs it; one good turn deserves another.
- speak/talk out of turn
To say something that one should not have said; to make an inappropriate or tactless remark.
• She shouldn't have said those things at the meeting; she really spoke out of turn.
Phrasal Verbs of turn
- turn away
to avert your face from something so you are no longer observing it
• He turned away immediately when he saw the unsettling painting.
- turn something over
to repurpose or permit an item to be utilized for a different objective
• He decided to turn his old books over for donation to underprivileged schools.
- turn out
to occur or develop in a specific manner, resulting in something, often unexpectedly.
• The outcome of the experiment turned out to be surprising, revealing new insights.
- turn off (something)
to diverge from the current road to travel on a different one
• At the next intersection, turn off to the right and take another street.
- turn in
to retire for the night
• It was getting late, so John decided to turn in early.
- turn to something
to begin engaging in or utilizing something negative, particularly due to unhappiness
• Under pressure, she began to turn to cigarettes in hopes of easing her anxiety.
- turn something in
to submit something to an organization or someone in a position of authority
• Students are required to turn in their assignments before the deadline.
- turn something around
to transform an underperforming business, plan, or system into a successful one
• After months of hard work, they finally managed to turn the company’s performance around.
- turn something out
to manufacture or produce something, typically rapidly or in substantial quantities
• The factory can turn out thousands of products each day.
- turn over
When an engine turns over, it signifies that its components are moving to initiate the operation of the engine.
• When I turn the key, the engine starts to turn over.
- turn something round
to transform a failing business, plan, or system into one that achieves success
• The manager took several months to turn the failing company around.
- turn on something
When something is contingent upon another factor, it is dependent on or determined by it.
• His success is, to some extent, contingent upon his social network.
- turn over something
When a business achieves a certain monetary figure, it signifies that the company has conducted that level of business over a specific time period.
• The company achieved a turnover of ten million dollars last year.
- turn something up
to shorten a garment or part of it by folding and sewing the fabric in place.
• She decided to turn the old dress up, making it more fashionable.
- turn something on
to begin demonstrating a specific characteristic
• In the meeting, she turned her leadership skills on.
- turn up
When a situation improves or an opportunity emerges unexpectedly and without prior planning.
• During the economic crisis, the company unexpectedly turned up, surprising many as the situation was truly unforeseen.
- turn something/someone down
to decline a proposal or request
• She turned down the promotion offer because she wanted to maintain her current work-life balance.
- turn to someone/something
to seek assistance or support from a person or organization
• Whenever I feel down, I often turn to my friends for support.
- turn (someone) back
to reverse direction back to where you came from, or to cause someone to do so
• Due to the bad weather, the rescue team had to turn the climbers back.
- turn (someone) against someone/something
to begin to dislike or oppose someone or something, or to cause someone to do so
• His rumors ultimately turned her against him.
- turn someone away
to refuse someone entry to a location
• When I arrived at the party, they turned me away because I didn't have an invitation.
- turn someone in
to hand a criminal over to law enforcement, or to report yourself to them for committing a crime
• She decided to turn in the criminal she witnessed.
- turn (someone/something) into someone/something
to transform into a different person or thing, or to cause someone or something to do so
• The movie turned an ordinary person into a hero.
- turn someone off
to cause someone to lose interest or enthusiasm, particularly in a sexual context
• His rude behavior truly turned me off.
- turn on someone
to unexpectedly attack or harshly criticize an individual out of the blue
• During the meeting, John turned on Mary with a sudden outburst, shocking everyone.
- turn someone on
to evoke a sense of interest or excitement in someone, particularly in a sexual manner
• Her dance performance turned everyone on.
- turn someone on to something
to spark someone's interest in a particular subject or activity
• It was when she introduced me to that book that I got turned on to psychology.
- turn someone out
to compel someone to depart or leave
• The engineer was turned out of his office because the company went bankrupt.
- turn (something) over
to switch to another TV channel
• During the commercials, we always turn over to other channels to watch different shows.
- turn somewhere/something over
to pilfer or rummage through a location, typically resulting in disarray or destruction
• The police turned the vacant house over looking for any possible evidence.
- turn something over to someone
to transfer something to a person in authority or someone entitled to it by law, or to bestow upon someone legal accountability for an item
• After the investigation is completed, we will turn all relevant documents over to the police.
- turn someone over to someone
to hand over a criminal to law enforcement or another authority
• The officer turned the suspect over to the authorities during the operation.
- turn (something) to something
To direct your focus, thoughts, or discussion to a particular topic or subject.
• We need to turn the focus of this meeting to the budget.
- turn up (somewhere)
to show up or arrive in a place, often unexpectedly or without prior arrangement
• We thought he would be late, but he actually turned up on time.