From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishturn up phrasal verb1 turn something ↔ upINCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT to turn a switch on a machine such as an oven, radio etc so that it produces more heat, sound etc OPP turn down Turn the oven up to 220. Turn up the radio!2 APPEARto be found, especially by chance, after having been lost or searched for Eventually my watch turned up in a coat pocket.3 GO TO/ATTENDto arrive at a place, especially in a way that is unexpected You can’t just turn up and expect a meal.turn up late/early/on time etc Steve turned up late, as usual.4 HAPPENif an opportunity or situation turns up, it happens, especially when you are not expecting it Don’t worry, I’m sure a job will turn up soon.5 turn something ↔ upFIND OUT to find something by searching for it thoroughly The police investigation hasn’t turned up any new evidence.6 turn something ↔ up British EnglishDC to shorten a skirt, trousers etc by folding up the bottom and sewing it → turn up trumps at trump1(4) → turn→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
turn up• Would you mind turning the heat up?• Ben's been looking for a job for two months, but nothing good's turned up.• I'd almost given up hope of finding a house I liked, and then suddenly this one turned up.• After seven months on the case, the police failed to turn up any real clues.• Hey, turn this up for a second, I like this song.• Can you turn the television up? I can't hear it.• A thorough examination of the company's account books turned up several interesting facts.• Don't worry about your earrings - I'm sure they'll turn up sooner or later.• Someone turned up the music, and people started dancing.• We hooked up my stereo and turned up the volume as loud as it would go.• Is the sound turned up too loud for you?• Have those files turned up yet?turn up late/early/on time etc• It's not fair on the people who turn up on time.• Would the star turn up on time?• They might turn up on time and do all the right things, or they might not.turn-upˈturn-up noun [countable] British English 1 DCthe bottom of a trouser leg that is folded up for decoration or to make it shorter SYN cuff American English2 → a turn-up for the book(s)Examples from the Corpus
turn-up• They searched him and found fragments of car window glass in the turn-ups of his jeans. 