From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishturnturn1 /tɜːn $ tɜːrn/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 your body [intransitive, transitive] to move your body so that you are looking in a different direction → twist Ricky turned and walked away. She turned her head in surprise.turn around/round/away Dan turned away, hiding the fear in his eyes.turn (your head/face) to do something He turned around to look at Kim. ‘No, ’ she said, turning her head to see David’s reaction. Brigitte glared at him, turned on her heel (=turned away suddenly because of anger), and stomped out of the room.2 object [transitive usually + adverb/preposition] to move something so that it is pointing or aiming in a different directionturn something around/over/upside down etc You may turn over your exam papers now.turn something on something/somebody The firemen turned their hoses on the blaze.turn something to face something/somebody Could you turn your chairs to face this way?turn a/the page (=move a page in a book over so that you can read the next page)turn something down/up He turned down the corner of the sheet to peep at the baby.3 direction a) [intransitive, transitive] to go in a new direction when you are walking, driving etc, or to make the vehicle you are using do this I watched until he turned the corner.turn left/right Turn left at the church.turn into/onto/down etc She cycled up the street and turned into Long Road. Turning the car around, we headed home. b) [intransitive] if a road, river etc turns, it curves and starts to go in a new direction Further on, the river turns east. The road turns sharply at the top of the hill.4 move around central point [intransitive, transitive]TURN to move around a central or fixed point, or to make something move in this way The wheels turned slowly, then picked up speed. For some reason, the key wouldn’t turn.turn the handle/knob/key/tap etc She gently turned the handle of the bedroom door.5 change [linking verb, transitive] to start to have a different quality, or to make something do thisturn (something) red/blue/white etc Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink.the weather turns cold/nasty etc (also it turns cold/nasty etc) Then it turned cold and started to rain.turn nasty/mean/violent etc (=suddenly become angry, violent etc) The police are worried that the situation could turn violent.► see thesaurus at becomeGRAMMAR: Linking verbsTurn is a linking verb in this meaning. It links the subject of the sentence with an adjective: His face turned pale.Their relationship turned sour. 6 attention/thoughts [intransitive, transitive] to start to think about, deal with, look at etc a particular person, thing, or subject, instead of what you were thinking about etc beforeturn your attention/thoughts/efforts etc to something/somebody Many investors have turned their attention to opportunities abroad. Phil turned his gaze towards the older man.turn to/towards etc something As usual, the conversation turned back to her children. Now is the time of year when thoughts turn in the direction of summer holidays. Next the Senator turned to education.7 → turn your back (on somebody/something)8 age/time [transitive] to become a particular age, or to reach a particular timesomebody turns 15/20/40 etc My son’s just turned 18.it’s turned 2 o'clock/5/midday etc It’s just turned three.9 → turn something inside out10 → have turned the corner11 make/let go out [transitive] to make or let someone or something go out from where they areturn somebody/something out/outside/into etc (something) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board. There are some criminals who cannot be turned loose onto the streets.12 tide [intransitive] if the tide turns, the sea starts to come in or go out again13 change development [intransitive, transitive] if something such as a war, situation, game of sport etc turns, or someone turns it, something happens to change the way it is developing Mills turned the game by scoring twice. The victory turned the tide of the war in North Africa. 14 → turn traitor15 → turn your ankle16 → an actor turned politician/a housewife turned author etc17 → turn somebody’s head18 → turn (people’s) heads19 → turn a profit20 → turn a phrase21 land [transitive] to break up soil so that it is ready for growing crops a distant tractor turning the soil22 wood/metal [transitive] to shape a wooden or metal object using a special tool23 milk [intransitive] British English if milk turns, it becomes sour → turn a blind eye (to something) at blind1(3), → turn the other cheek at cheek1(4), → turn full circle at circle1(6), → somebody would turn in their grave at grave1(3), → not turn a hair at hair(11), → turn your hand to (doing) something at hand1(26), → turn over a new leaf at leaf1(3), → turn your nose up (at something) at nose1(5), → turn your stomach at stomach1(4), → turn the tables (on somebody) at table1(6), → turn tail at tail1(9)THESAURUS – Meaning 4: to move around a central or fixed point, or to make something move in this wayturn to move around a central or fixed pointThe wheels of the train began to turn.go around (also go round British English) to turn around a central point. Go around is a little more informal than turn and is very common in everyday EnglishWhen the fan goes around, the warm air is pushed back downwards.revolve/rotate to turn around and around a central point. Rotate and revolve are more formal than turn and sound more technicalThe Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours.The stage revolves at various points during the performance.spin to turn around many times very quicklyThe ice skater began to spin faster and faster.whirl /wɜːl $ wɜːrl/ to spin around extremely quickly, often in a powerful or uncontrolled wayThe blades of the helicopter whirled overhead.twirl (around) to spin around quickly, especially as part of a dance or performanceThe couples were twirling around on the dance floor.swirl (around) to move around quickly in a circular movement, especially when the movement goes outwards or upwards from the centerHer white skirt swirled around her legs as she danced.The leaves began to swirl around. spiral to move in a continuous curve that gets nearer to or further from its central point as it goes aroundThe smoke spiralled toward the ceiling. → turn (somebody) against somebody/something → turn around → turn away → turn back → turn somebody/something ↔ down → turn in → turn (somebody/something) into something → turn off → turn on → turn out → turn over → turn round → turn to somebody/something → turn up → turn upon somebody/something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
turn• "What time is it?" "It just turned 3:00."• I turned a corner and nearly ran into Caroline.• She turned and looked Seth straight in the eyes.• I heard the door knob turning, and then Frank opened the door and tiptoed in.• An event that made heads turn and tongues wag.• Campbell turned and walked out of the room.• He saw a police car up ahead, so he turned and went down a side street.• It's getting late - I think we should turn back before it gets dark.• North Beach and Union Square merchants wait for customers who turn back, frustrated by street closures and a lack of parking.• Heat the peas briefly till they turn bright green.• Just when we were all getting our summer clothes out, it turned cold again.• It was late autumn and the leaves were slowly turning golden.• Peter Allis has turned golf into a kind of harmless interview where public figures hit a few shots and chat about themselves.• As the propeller stopped turning, Grady ran up to the plane.• Charles turned his gaze upward to admire the ceiling.• She put the key in the ignition and turned it, but nothing happened.• I got a perm that turned my hair green.• It turned out about the good-looking fellow from Essex County that he was a football coach who also did some counseling.• I felt myself turn red with embarrassment.• Continue to turn the fritter until both sides are golden brown.• No wonder he has turned the Newtslaying mission over to his deputy, David Bonior.• I'll read the story and you turn the pages. OK, honey?• If we turn the table around we can fit more chairs in the room.• "What do you think we should do?" she said, turning to her husband.• Philomela accordingly turned to her loom.• She heard the door opening and turned to see who was coming in.• Landladies had mysteriously found tenants in the few minutes between a telephone inquiry and one's turning up on the doorstep.turn around/round/away• He turned round and walked towards the stage.• Mike turned around and waved, too, and motioned for me to come out.• I turned away from the brook and felt strangely restless.• As Zen turned away he glanced at the calendar hanging beside the phone, and suddenly realized what day it was.• The driver led the way, turning around periodically to check that the others were with him.• As the backswing progresses, the shoulders turn around the spine angle which is pre-set at the address position.• In recent years public schools have turned away thousands of students.turn something around/over/upside down etc• The girl was turning everything upside down.• The history of implants has been equally painful; implants can shift or turn themselves upside down.• Yet with an appealing brew of nationalism and promise of democratic reform, Kostunica has since turned Yugoslav politics upside down.• I turn the box upside down and bring it out empty.• We could turn the glass upside down and sideways without having the water pour out because air pressure pushes in all directions.• They studied the map for a while, scratched their heads, turned it upside down and studied it some more.• A distorted religion has turned the world upside down, denying that anything ever existed before itself. turned the corner• He faced Main Street, where a black hearse turned the corner.• I hope we have turned the corner.• Simon and Tony watched her until she turned the corner.• As he turned the corner, a girl was heading toward him, a tall girl with a lot of blond hair.• He turned the corner and saw the damage the heavy rain had done.• Once he had turned the corner, he took the coat off and slipped it over his arm.• As she turned the corner, her lips curved.• A superior actor might have turned the corner on this film.turn the handle/knob/key/tap etc• Marge led Janey to the car and turned the key.• I hop into my truck, turn the key and wait as absolutely nothing happens.• He enters the room key into the cylinder and turns the key, but the door will not open.• He turned the key in the lock, and went in the side door of the old parish hall.• Two minutes and one window later, I was turning the key in the Wheel Room door.• She added some chicory to the coffee beans and turned the handle quickly.• This sluggishness is in turn the key to the mounting unemployment of those years.• He was turning the key when Sam and more of the devil's horde came running.turn (something) red/blue/white etc• The liquid had turned bright red.• And that is why the virginia creeper plant turns a lovely red colour in the autumn.• These good ole boys could turn the blues into a rainbow.• Death thoughts turn your hair white, make you weak and break you, sucking out your life.• Her face had turned the muddy red of my water jar.• Black, spider-like chips have turned the white porcelain sink into mock Dalmation.• At first the water evaporated as soon as it left the faucet, turning into red steam when it hit your body.• In the spring, the rolling hills around Yakima Valley turn snow white with cherry and apple blossoms. turn your attention/thoughts/efforts etc to something/somebody• After sloughing off Payless, May could turn its attention to acquisitions, possibly of other department stores, analysts said.• When Zeus had punished men by giving them women he turned his attention to the arch-sinner himself.• Once the school began functioning smoothly, Friedman turned his attention to the blacker side of the organization: interception and solution.• The software giant only recently turned its attention to the Internet.• Perhaps local authorities should thankfully accept this solution and turn their attention to the needs of non-dementing elderly residents and community services.• She turned her attention to the room, which had obviously been three smaller rooms at one time.• Then he turned his attention to the small tape-recorder, which had faithfully copied the brief transmission.• We must now turn our attention to the spiritual dynamics which operate in relation to the communication of the gospel.turned loose• The other two were turned loose.• It looked as if a bull had been turned loose, and a sense of impending doom gripped her.• In 1882 pigs were turned loose on the streets of New York City to eat garbage.• He was denied his life because a killer was turned loose rather than executed.turned the tide• What turned the tide for Dole? turnturn2 ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 chance to do something [countable]CHANCE/OPPORTUNITYSHARE the time when it is your chance, duty, or right to do something that each person in a group is doing one after the other SYN go British Englishturn to do something Whose turn is it to set the table? It’s your turn. Roll the dice. I think it’s our turn to drive the kids to school this week.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say that it is someone’s go in a game rather than turn:Whose go is it now?Wait until it’s your go.2 → take turns3 → in turn4 road [countable]TTR a) American English a place where one road goes in a different direction from the one you are on SYN turning British English According to the map we missed our turn back there.take the first/a wrong etc turn (=go along the first etc road) I think we took a wrong turn coming out of town. Take the second turn on the left. b) a curve in a road, path etc There’s a sharp turn coming up ahead.5 change direction [countable]TURN a change in the direction you are movingmake a left/right turn Make a left turn at the station.6 change in events [countable] a sudden or unexpected change that makes a situation develop in a different waytake a dramatic/fresh/different etc turn From then on, our fortunes took a downward turn. My career had already taken a new turn. The president was stunned by the sudden turn of events.take a turn for the worse/better Two days after the operation, Dad took a turn for the worse.7 → the turn of the century/year8 → at every turn9 act of turning something [countable]TURN the act of turning something completely around a fixed point I gave the screw another two or three turns. 10 → by turns11 → turn of phrase12 → speak/talk out of turn13 → do somebody a good/bad turn14 → one good turn deserves another15 → turn of mind16 → on the turn17 → turn of speed18 → be done to a turn19 → take a turn in/on etc something20 → give somebody a turn21 → have a turnExamples from the Corpus
turn• Loosen the screw one complete turn in order to release the valve.• She can do a 360-degree turn on water skis.• Take the first turn on your right.• Take the first turning after the traffic lights.• The impartial flames in turn drove them back.• The OEMs in turn pass some of those reductions on to their customers to increase market share.• This in turn gave the schools the heavy assignment of universal literacy.• In turn, however, the question of where population is growing - or declining - is fundamentally related to human welfare.• When it was my turn, I always used to think my time went quicker than when Frank was carrying it.• My turn to die had come and I had been inexplicably reprieved.• With three swift turns of the wheel, he steered the boat away from the rocks.• We were supposed to take Highway 12, but I think we missed the turn.• Tighten the screw another two or three turns.turn to do something• Next in its review of the pressures for change, Chapter 3 turns to the growth of the functions of trade unions.• It would be my turn to get the good stuff.• Now it was my turn to be silent, and to look about the room.• And today it was my turn to make a contribution.• To order, turn to page 148 Lounge around in style in this fabulous tunic top with matching leggings.• To order, turn to the coupon on page 163.• For details of our pre-bookable excursions, please turn to page 8.• As she turned to go, Carly saw the package in the corner.• Except for taking turns to go to the bar and the gents, they never moved at all.sharp turn• After a sharp turn in the path, they are suddenly approaching a faint square of light.• We came to a sharp turn in the road.• A sharp turn to the south east took us past St Ives, and up a massive sand-filled estuary towards Hayle.• However her outspoken opinions mask an iron determination matched by a formidable charm and sharp turn of phrase.• Another sharp turn sent them soaring out of a tunnel mouth in the side of a vast cavern.• His feet and hands kept striking stone corners, sharp turns, and massive columns difficult to circumvent.• Their wings do not normally come into contact, but even so there are problems when the dragonfly executes sharp turns.• The road made a last sharp turn and ran straight west along the shoreline into Angle Inlet.• Ro and Brent do the carrying, negotiating sharp turns in the stairwell.make a left/right turn• Make a left turn at the light.take a dramatic/fresh/different etc turn• But now it looked as if her job might have taken a different turn.• And everything would have taken a different turn.• Here, self-exclusion from the feast of life takes a fresh turn.• Soon, however, events were to take a different turn.• El Cid's future seemed anything but happy, yet events were to take a dramatic turn in the months ahead.From Longman Business Dictionaryturnturn1 /tɜːntɜːrn/ noun1[countable]FINANCE the difference between the price at which a MARKETMAKER will buy and sell a particular shareSYNSPREAD2[singular] if something takes a particular turn, it starts developing in a completely different wayThings may take a bad turn and the economic situation may deteriorate.The economy seems to be taking a turn for the worse (=suddenly becoming worse).turnturn2 verb turn a profit to make a profitThe China operation has just started turning a profit. → turn something → around → turn down → turn something → out → turn over something → turn something over to somebody→ See Verb tableOrigin turn1 (1000-1100) Partly from Latin tornare “to turn on a lathe”, from turnus “lathe”, from Greek tornos; partly from Old French torner, tourner “to turn”, from Latin tornare 