Definition of Turn

Verb: turn turn

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"
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";
- change state
Undergo a change or development
"The water turned into ice"; "He turned traitor";
- become
Cause to move around or rotate
"turn a key"; "turn your palm this way"
Change to the contrary
"the tides turned against him"; "public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern";
- change by reversal, reverse
Pass to the other side of
"turn the corner";
- move around
Pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
"The weather turned nasty";
- grow
Let (something) fall or spill from a container
"turn the flour onto a plate";
- release
Move around an axis or a centre
"The wheels are turning"
Cause to move around a centre so as to show another side of
"turn a page of a book";
- turn over
To send or let go
"They turned away the crowd at the gate of the governor's mansion"
(farming) to break and turn over earth especially with a plough
"turn the earth in the spring";
- plow [N. Amer], plough [Brit, Cdn]
Shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel
"turn the legs of the table"; "turn the clay on the wheel"
Change colour
"In Vermont, the leaves turn early"
Twist suddenly so as to sprain
"I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days";
- twist, sprain, wrench, wrick, rick
Cause to change 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"
Accomplish by rotating
"turn a somersault"; "turn cartwheels"
Get by buying and selling
"the company turned a good profit after a year"
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"
Channel one's attention, interest or thought toward or away from something
"The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction"; "people turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium"
Cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form
"the strong man could turn an iron bar";
- flex, bend, deform, twist
Alter the functioning or setting of
"turn the dial to 10"; "turn the heat down"
Direct at someone
"She turned a smile on me"; "They turned their flashlights on the car"
Have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to
"She turned to her relatives for help";
- call on
Go sour or spoil
"The cream has turned--we have to throw it out";
- sour, ferment, work
Become officially one year older
"She is turning 50 this year"

Noun: turn turn

A circular segment of a curve
"a turn in the road";
- bend, crook, twist
The act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
"he took a turn to the right";
- turning
(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
"it is my turn";
- play
An unforeseen development
"events suddenly took an awkward turn";
- turn of events, twist
A movement in a new direction
"the turn of the wind";
- turning
The act of turning away or in the opposite direction
"he made an abrupt turn away from her"
Turning or twisting around (in place)
"with a quick turn of his head he surveyed the room";
- twist
A time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
"it's my turn";
- go, spell, tour
(sport) a division during which one team is on the offensive
- bout, round
A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program
"he did his turn three times every evening";
- act, routine, number, bit
A favour for someone
"he did me a good turn";
- good turn
Taking a short walk out and back
"we took a turn in the park"
A short period of feeling ill