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Definition turn in British English

turn verb

verb
/tɜː(r)n/
1

to change the position of your body or head so that you are facing in a different direction

Example

She turned and smiled at me.

Example

He turned his head and looked around the room.

Example

Maria turned to the reporters and said: 'I'm innocent.'

Example

Lopez just glared at the other man and then turned away.

Example

The girls in front turned round and grinned.

Example

The whole audience turned to stare at the latecomers.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

to change the position of something so that it is pointing in a different direction

Example

Turn your chairs round so you're facing me.

Example

The attacker killed three people before turning the gun on himself.

Example

Turn the tape over and press 'Play'.

Synonyms and related words
2

to change the direction in which you are moving or travelling

Example

We turned into our drive, glad to get home.

Example

The truck turned around and came back towards us.

Example

Follow this path; then turn right and walk uphill.

Synonyms and related words
2.1

to make something change the direction in which it is moving

Example

He turned the car in the direction of the city.

Example

They ordered the pilot to turn the plane around.

Synonyms and related words
2.2

if a road or river turns, it bends and goes in a different direction

Example

Here the road turns sharply to the right.

Synonyms and related words
2.3

if the tide turns, it moves in the opposite direction

Synonyms and related words
Example

I heard the key turn in the lock.

Synonyms and related words
3.1

to make something move in a circle

Example

Turning this wheel will start the machine.

Synonyms and related words
4

if you turn the page of a book or magazine, you move it in order to read a different page

Synonyms and related words
5

to change and do or become something else

Example

Duval turned professional in 1993.

Example

The weather turned quite chilly in the afternoon.

Synonyms and related words
5.1

to change and become another colour

Example

The leaves turn bright red in autumn.

Synonyms and related words
6

to become a particular age or a particular time

Example

He turned 40 in March.

Example

It's just turned midnight.

Synonyms and related words
7

if your stomach turns, or if something turns your stomach, you feel as if food in your stomach is going to come out through your mouth

Synonyms and related words
9

if milk turns, it becomes sour

Synonyms and related words
10

to give a particular shape to a piece of wood or metal using a lathe

Synonyms and related words
Definition turn in British English

Related Words

Words related to turn:

a turn (phrase) a turn of the screw (phrase) a turn-up for the books (phrase) about-turn (noun) at every turn (phrase) Buggins' turn (noun) trumps (phrase) full circle (phrase) to a turn (phrase) crimson (phrase) professional (phrase) sour (phrase) in turn (phrase) make someone’s blood cold (phrase) not know to turn () not turn a hair () on the turn (phrase) your mind to something (phrase) the screws on someone (phrase) the clock back (phrase) the clock forward (phrase) someone would turn in their grave (phrase) out of turn (phrase) something on its head (phrase) star turn (noun) take turns (phrase) the turn of the (phrase) three-point turn (noun) toss and turn (phrase) turn (verb) turn (noun) turn a blind eye (to something) (phrase) turn a deaf ear (to) (phrase) turn a trick (phrase) turn against (phrasal verb) turn around (phrasal verb) turn aside (phrase) turn away (phrasal verb) turn away from (phrasal verb) turn back (phrasal verb) turn down (phrasal verb) turn heads (phrase) turn in (phrasal verb) turn in on (phrasal verb) turn into (phrasal verb) turn of mind (phrase) turn of phrase (phrase) turn of speed (phrase) turn off (phrasal verb) turn on (phrasal verb) turn on a dime (phrase) turn on the waterworks (phrase) turn out (phrasal verb) turn over (phrasal verb) turn over a new leaf (phrase) turn pro (phrase) turn round (phrasal verb) turn signal (noun) turn someone’s head (phrase) turn someone’s upside down (phrase) turn someone’s stomach (phrase) turn something inside out (phrase) turn something to dust (phrase) turn something upside down (phrase) turn tail (phrase) turn the air blue (phrase) turn the other cheek (phrase) turn the tables (on someone) (phrase) turn the tide (phrase) turn the/a corner (phrase) turn to (phrasal verb) turn like jelly (phrase) turn turtle (phrase) turn up (phrasal verb) turn up like a bad penny (phrase) turn your back on (phrase) turn your hand to something (phrase) turn your nose up (at something) (phrase) turn-off (noun) turn-on (noun) turn-up (noun) on your heel (phrase) the knife (in the wound) (phrase) U-turn (noun) U-turn (verb) volte-face (noun) wait your turn (phrase)