turn
verbUK /tɜːn/ · US /tɜɹn/
Etymology
From Middle English turnen, from Old English turnian, tyrnan (“to turn, rotate, revolve”), from Proto-West Germanic *turnēn (“to turn, lathe”) (also the source of German turnen and its derivatives) and Old French torner (“to turn”), both from Latin tornāre (“to round off, turn in a lathe”), from tornus (“lathe”), from Ancient Greek τόρνος (tórnos, “turning-lathe: a tool used for making circles”), from Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- (“to rub, rub by turning, turn, twist, bore”). Cognate with Old English þrāwan (“to turn, twist, wind”), whence English throw. Displaced native Middle English wenden from Old English wendan (see wend), and Middle English trenden from Old English trendan (see trend), among several other terms.
35 senses
- 1To move about an axis through itself.
- 2To change the direction or orientation of, especially by…
- 3To change one's direction of travel.
- 4To shape (something) symmetrically by rotating it…
- 5To give form to; to shape or mould; to adapt.
- 6To direct or impel (something) into or out of a place.
- 7To position (something) by folding it, or using its folds.
- 8To navigate through a book or other printed material.
- 9To twist or sprain.
- 10Of a bowler, to make (the ball) move sideways off the…
- 11Of a ball, to move sideways off the pitch when it bounces.
- 12To become (often used with colors, clear sudden changes…
- 13To change the color of the leaves in the autumn.
- 14To change fundamentally; to metamorphose.
- 15To sour or spoil; to go bad.
- 16To make acid or sour; to ferment; to curdle.
- 17To change (a person) into a vampire, werewolf, zombie, etc.
- 18To transform into a vampire, werewolf, zombie, etc.
- 19To change the sexual orientation or gender of another…
- 20To hinge; to depend.
- 21To rebel; to go against something formerly tolerated.
- 22To change personalities, such as from being a face (good…
- 23To make or become giddy; said of the head or brain.
- 24To sicken; to nauseate.
- 25To be nauseated; said of the stomach.
- 26To change one's course of action; to take a new approach.
- 27To complete.
- 28To make (money); turn a profit.
- 29Of a player, to go past an opposition player with the…
- 30To undergo the process of turning on a lathe.
- 31To bring down the feet of a child in the womb, in order…
- 32To invert a type of the same thickness, as a temporary…
- 33To translate.
- 34To magically or divinely repel undead.
- 35To carve vegetables into uniform barrel-like or American…
› To make a non-linear physical movement.
1
Person, Of a body To move about an axis through itself.
- the Earth turns
- turn on the spot
2 more examples
- "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.[…]."1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
- We didn't start the fire / It was always burning / Since the world's been turning1989 September 18, Billy Joel, “We Didn't Start the Fire”, in Storm Front:
2
To change the direction or orientation of, especially by rotation.
- Turn the knob clockwise.
- It was not far from the house; but the ground sank into a depression there, and the ridge of it behind shut out everything except just the roof of the tallest hayrick. As one sat on the sward behind the elm, with the back turned on the rick and nothing in front but the tall elms and the oaks in the other hedge, it was quite easy to fancy it the verge of the prairie with the backwoods close by.1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], “The First Gun”, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 9–10:
1 more example
- Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo, meaning vortex, and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work.2013 July-August, Lee S. Langston, “The Adaptable Gas Turbine”, in American Scientist:
3
To change one's direction of travel.
- She turned right at the corner.
- I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railroad station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 12:
1 more example
- I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
4
To shape (something) symmetrically by rotating it against a stationary cutting tool, as on a lathe.
- She turned the table legs with care and precision.
5
Broadly To give form to; to shape or mould; to adapt.
- […]the Poets pen turnes them to ſhapes,[…]c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 159, column 1:
- […]he was perfectly well turned for the occupations of trade and commerce.1711 July 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “TUESDAY, July 4, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 108; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 85:
1 more example
- His limbs how turn’d! how broad his ſhoulders ſpread!1725, Homer, “Book VIII”, in [William Broome], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume II, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 145, line 148:
6
To direct or impel (something) into or out of a place.
- Add sugar and butter, then turn the mixture into a dish.
- The farmer turned the cows into a field.
1 more example
- You were not wont to turn young and beautiful suppliants from your office door. What is the real reason of this professional reluctance on your part?1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
7
To position (something) by folding it, or using its folds.
- turn the bed covers; turn the pages
8
Figuratively To navigate through a book or other printed material.
- turn to page twenty; turn through the book
9
To twist or sprain.
- I fell off my bike and turned my ankle severely.
10
Ball games, Cricket, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Of a bowler, to make (the ball) move sideways off the pitch when it bounces.
11
Ball games, Cricket, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Of a ball, to move sideways off the pitch when it bounces.
› To change condition or attitude.
12
To become (often used with colors, clear sudden changes, weather and ages).
- Near-synonyms: become, get, go, come, fall, grow, wax
- The leaves turn brown in autumn.
4 more examples
- When I asked him for the money, he turned nasty.
- Charlie turns six on September 29.
- Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, / Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman ſcorn'd.1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act III, page 39:
- The former-slaves-turned-abolitionists Quobna Ottobah Cugoano and Olaudah Equiano were the chief organizers of the Sons of Africa.2007, Junius P. Rodriguez, Encyclopedia of Emancipation and Abolition in the Transatlantic World:
13
To change the color of the leaves in the autumn.
- The hillside behind our house isn't generally much to look at, but once all the trees turn it's gorgeous.
14
To change fundamentally; to metamorphose.
- Midas made everything turn to gold. He turned into a monster every full moon.
- At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Silverside”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 300:
1 more example
- Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
› To change condition or attitude. › To change fundamentally; to metamorphose.
15
To sour or spoil; to go bad.
- This milk has turned; it smells awful.
16
To make acid or sour; to ferment; to curdle.
- to turn cider or wine
17
Fantasy To change (a person) into a vampire, werewolf, zombie, etc.
- How long ago was he turned?
- His companions had turned him on purpose. Annie, bless her heart, was immune.2017, Michael J. Totten, Into the Wasteland: A Zombie Novel:
18
Fantasy To transform into a vampire, werewolf, zombie, etc.
- Bruce Banner turns when he is angry: he becomes the Hulk, an incredibly powerful green monster.
19
Offensive, Slang, Sometimes To change the sexual orientation or gender of another person, or otherwise awaken a sexual preference.
- We may not be made gay or lesbian in the sense of being “turned” by some error in parenting or child rearing, but we are certainly biologically made and raised (most of us) by straights.2009 September 10, W. C. Harris, Queer Externalities: Hazardous Encounters in American Culture, State University of New York Press, →ISBN, page 154:
- An old homophobic fantasy has it that a gay man or lesbian can be “turned” by a fulfilling sexual encounter with someone of the opposite sex2023 May 15, Eliot Borenstein, Marvel Comics in the 1970s: The World Inside Your Head, Cornell University Press, →ISBN, page 244:
› To change condition or attitude.
20
To hinge; to depend.
- The decision turns on a single fact.
- […] Conditions of Peace certainly do turn upon Events of War.1711 December 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Jonathan Swift], “The Eighth Article of the Grand Alliance”, in The Conduct of the Allies, and of the Late Ministry, in Beginning and Carrying on the Present War, 4th edition, London: […] John Morphew […], published 1711, →OCLC, page 72:
21
To rebel; to go against something formerly tolerated.
- The prisoners turned on the warden.
- ‘You little Fool!’ returned her sister, shaking her with the sharp pull she gave her arm. ‘Have you no spirit at all? But that’s just the way! You have no self-respect, you have no becoming pride, just as you allow yourself to be followed about by a contemptible little Chivery of a thing,’ with the scornfullest emphasis, ‘you would let your family be trodden on, and never turn.’1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC:
› To change condition or attitude. › To change personal condition.
22
Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Martial arts, Military, Politics, Professional wrestling, Sports, War, Wrestling To change personalities, such as from being a face (good guy) to heel (bad guy) or vice versa.
23
Ambitransitive To make or become giddy; said of the head or brain.
- Ile looke no more, / Leaſt my braine turne,[…]c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii], page 302, column 2:
24
To sicken; to nauseate.
- The sight turned my stomach.
25
To be nauseated; said of the stomach.
26
To change one's course of action; to take a new approach.
- And they made a calfe in thoſe dayes / and offered ſacrifice vnto the ymage / and reioyſed in the workes of theyr awne hondes. / Then God turned hym ſilfe / and gave them vp /[…]1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts vij:[41–42], folio clxiij, verso:
- Turne from thy fierce wrath,[…]1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 32:12, columns 1–2:
2 more examples
- The Mind receiving the Ideas, mentioned in the foregoing Chapter, from without, when it turns its view inward upon its ſelf,[…]1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Of Simple Ideas of Reflection”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book II, § 1, page 51:
- Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence.1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 373, column 2:
27
Usually, With over To complete.
- They say they can turn the parts in two days.
28
To make (money); turn a profit.
- We turned a pretty penny with that little scheme.
29
Ball games, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Soccer, Sports Of a player, to go past an opposition player with the ball in one's control.
- Liverpool introduced Carroll for Spearing and were rewarded after 64 minutes when he put them back in contention. Stewart Downing blocked Jose Bosingwa's attempted clearance, which fell into the path of Carroll. He turned John Terry superbly before firing high past Cech.2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
30
To undergo the process of turning on a lathe.
- Ivory turns well.
31
Medicine, Obstetrics, Sciences To bring down the feet of a child in the womb, in order to facilitate delivery.
32
Media, Printing, Publishing Dated To invert a type of the same thickness, as a temporary substitute for any sort which is exhausted.
33
Archaic To translate.
- to turn the Iliad
- who turns a Persian tale for half a crown1735, Alexander Pope, The Prologue to the Satires:
34
To magically or divinely repel undead.
Roleplaying games
35
Cooking, Food, Lifestyle To carve vegetables into uniform barrel-like or American football-like shapes.
- The hardest part of culinary school was learning to turn vegetables perfectly.
- Synonyms
- rotate, spin, twirl, steer, swerve, tack, become, get, go, rebel, revolt, lathe, go bad, go off, sour, spoil, complete
- Derived terms
148 terms
beturn, deturn, downturn, even a worm will turn, inturn, mill-turn, misturn, not know where to turn, not know which way to turn, outturn, overturn, please turn left, please turn right, stomach-turning, the worm turns, tilt-and-turn, tilt-turn, toss and turn, turnability, turnable, turn a blind eye, turn about, turn a corner, turn a deaf ear, turnagain, turn again, turn against, turn a hair, turn a new leaf, turn an honest penny, turn a number of shades of red, turn a page, turn a phrase, turn around, turnaround, turn around one's finger, turn a setback into a comeback, turn aside, turn a trick, turn away, turn back, turn back the clock, turnbarrel, turnboy, turnbroach, turnbuckle, Turnbull, turncloak, turncock, turn down, turnery, turn flukes, turn forth, turn heads, turn home, turn in, turn in one's grave, turn in on oneself, turn inside-out, turn in succession, turn into, turn inward, turnkey, turn king's evidence, turn loose, turn off, turn on, turn one on, turn one's back, turn one's coat, turn one's color, turn one's hand to, turn one's life around, turn one's life upside down, turn one's nose up, turn up one's nose, turn one's world upside down, turn on its head, turn on one's heel, turn on red, turn or burn, turn out, turn over, turn pear-shaped, turnplate, turn queen's evidence, turn round, turnround, turnrow, turn rusty, turnscrew, turnshoe, turnsick, turnskin, turn someone's crank, turn someone's head, turn something into an art form, turnspit, turn square corners, turnstone, turn tail, turntail, turn the air blue, turn the boat, turn the boat around, turn the clock back, turn the corner, turn the dial, turn the frown upside down, turn the knife, turn the knife in the wound, turn the other cheek, turn the other way, turn the page, turn the scale, turn the screw, turn the screws, turn the table, turn the tables, turn the tide, turn the trick, turn the turtle, turntippet, turn to, turn to account, turn to custard, turn to dust, turn together, turn to good account, turn to stone, turn traitor, turn tricks, turn Turk, turn turtle, turn two, turn under, turn up, turn upon, turn upside down, turn up the heat, turn with every wind, turnwrest, turny, twist and turn, underturn, unturn, upturn, wheels are turning