Turn - Definition

n 1: a circular segment of a curve; "a bend in the road"; "a
crook in the path" [syn: bend, crook, twist, turn]
2: the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course;
"he took a turn to the right" [syn: turn, turning]
3: (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed
succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" [syn:
turn, play]
4: an unforeseen development; "events suddenly took an awkward
turn" [syn: turn, turn of events, twist]
5: a movement in a new direction; "the turning of the wind"
[syn: turning, turn]
6: the act of turning away or in the opposite direction; "he
made an abrupt turn away from her"
7: turning or twisting around (in place); "with a quick twist of
his head he surveyed the room" [syn: twist, turn]
8: a time for working (after which you will be relieved by
someone else); "it's my go"; "a spell of work" [syn: go,
spell, tour, turn]
9: (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
[syn: turn, bout, round]
10: a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer
program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she
had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best
numbers he ever did" [syn: act, routine, number,
turn, bit]
11: a favor for someone; "he did me a good turn" [syn: turn,
good turn]
12: taking a short walk out and back; "we took a turn in the
park"
v 1: 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"
2: 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" [syn:
change state, turn]
3: undergo a change or development; "The water turned into ice";
"Her former friend became her worst enemy"; "He turned
traitor" [syn: become, turn]
4: cause to move around or rotate; "turn a key"; "turn your palm
this way"
5: change to the contrary; "The trend was reversed"; "the tides
turned against him"; "public opinion turned when it was
revealed that the president had an affair with a White House
intern" [syn: change by reversal, turn, reverse]
6: pass to the other side of; "turn the corner"; "move around
the obstacle" [syn: turn, move around]
7: pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property
or attribute; become; "The weather turned nasty"; "She grew
angry" [syn: turn, grow]
8: let (something) fall or spill from a container; "turn the
flour onto a plate" [syn: turn, release]
9: move around an axis or a center; "The wheels are turning"
10: cause to move around a center so as to show another side of;
"turn a page of a book" [syn: turn, turn over]
11: to send or let go; "They turned away the crowd at the gate
of the governor's mansion"
12: to break and turn over earth especially with a plow; "Farmer
Jones plowed his east field last week"; "turn the earth in
the Spring" [syn: plow, plough, turn]
13: shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel;
"turn the legs of the table"; "turn the clay on the wheel"
14: change color; "In Vermont, the leaves turn early"
15: twist suddenly so as to sprain; "wrench one's ankle"; "The
wrestler twisted his shoulder"; "the hikers sprained their
ankles when they fell"; "I turned my ankle and couldn't walk
for several days" [syn: twist, sprain, wrench, turn,
wrick, rick]
16: cause to change or turn 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"
17: accomplish by rotating; "turn a somersault"; "turn
cartwheels"
18: get by buying and selling; "the company turned a good profit
after a year"
19: 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"
20: channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention
toward or away from something; "The pedophile turned to boys
for satisfaction"; "people turn to mysticism at the turn of
a millennium"
21: cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular
form; "bend the rod"; "twist the dough into a braid"; "the
strong man could turn an iron bar" [syn: flex, bend,
deform, twist, turn] [ant: unbend]
22: alter the functioning or setting of; "turn the dial to 10";
"turn the heat down"
23: direct at someone; "She turned a smile on me"; "They turned
their flashlights on the car"
24: have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or
information to; "She called on her Representative to help
her"; "She turned to her relatives for help" [syn: call
on, turn]
25: go sour or spoil; "The milk has soured"; "The wine worked";
"The cream has turned--we have to throw it out" [syn:
sour, turn, ferment, work]
26: become officially one year older; "She is turning 50 this
year"