turn

A turn is a change of direction when you are travelling or moving.

A turn in a road, path, or river is a place where it has a bend or curve in it.

If a situation or trend takes a particular kind of turn, it changes so that it starts developing in a different or opposite way.

Turn is used in expressions such as the turn of the century and the turn of the year to refer to a period of time when one century or year is ending and the next one is beginning.

If it is your turn to do something, you now have the duty, chance, or right to do it, when other people have done it before you or will do it after you.

If you turn against someone or something, or if you are turned against them, you stop supporting them, trusting them, or liking them, and sometimes you work against them.

Turn around means the same as turn.

If you turn something around, or if it turns around, it is moved so that it faces the opposite direction.

If something such as a business or economy turns around, or if someone turns it around, it becomes successful, after being unsuccessful for a period of time.

If you turn someone away, you do not allow them to enter your country, home, or other place.

To turn away from something such as a method or an idea means to stop using it or to become different from it.

If you turn back or if someone turns you back when you are going somewhere, you change direction and go towards where you started from.

If you cannot turn back, you cannot change your plans and decide not to do something, because the action you have already taken makes it impossible.

If you turn down a person or their request or offer, you refuse their request or offer.

When you turn down a radio, heater, or other piece of equipment, you reduce the amount of sound or heat being produced, by adjusting the controls.

If you turn off the road or path you are going along, you start going along a different road or path which leads away from it.

When you turn off a piece of equipment or a supply of something, you stop heat, sound, or water from being produced by adjusting the controls.

If something turns you off a particular subject or activity, it makes you have no interest in it.

When you turn on a piece of equipment or a supply of something, you cause heat, sound, or water to be produced by adjusting the controls.

If someone or something turns you on, they attract you and make you feel sexually excited.

If someone turns on you, they suddenly attack you or speak angrily to you.

If something turns out a particular way, it happens in that way or has the result or degree of success indicated.

If something turns out to be a particular thing, it is discovered to be that thing.

When you turn out something such as a light, you move the switch or knob that controls it so that it stops giving out light or heat.

If you turn something over, or if it turns over, it is moved so that the top part is now facing downwards.

If you turn over, for example, when you are lying in bed, you move your body so that you are lying in a different position.

If you turn something over in your mind, you think carefully about it.

If you turn something over to someone, you give it to them when they ask for it, because they have a right to it.

If you say that someone or something turns up, you mean that they arrive unexpectedly or after you have been waiting a long time.

If you turn something up or if it turns up, you find, discover, or notice it.

When you turn up a radio, heater, or other piece of equipment, you increase the amount of sound, heat, or power being produced, by adjusting the controls.

If there is a particular turn of events, a particular series of things happen.

If you say that something happens at every turn, you are emphasizing that it happens frequently or all the time, usually so that it prevents you from achieving what you want.

If you do someone a good turn, you do something that helps or benefits them.

You use in turn to refer to actions or events that are in a sequence one after the other, for example, because one causes the other.

If each person in a group does something in turn, they do it one after the other in a fixed or agreed order.

If two or more people take turns to do something, they do it one after the other several times, rather than doing it together.

If a situation takes a turn for the worse, it suddenly becomes worse. If a situation takes a turn for the better, it suddenly becomes better.

When you turn or when you turn part of your body, you move your body or part of your body so that it is facing in a different or opposite direction.

When you turn something, you move it so that it is facing in a different or opposite direction, or is in a very different position.

When something such as a wheel turns, or when you turn it, it continually moves around in a particular direction.

When you turn something such as a key, knob, or switch, or when it turns, you hold it and twist your hand, in order to open something or make it start working.

When you turn in a particular direction or turn a corner, you change the direction in which you are moving or travelling.

The point where a road, path, or river turns is the point where it has a bend or curve in it.

When the tide turns, it starts coming in or going out.

When you turn a page of a book or magazine, you move it so that it is flat against the previous page, and you can read the next page.

If you turn a weapon or an aggressive feeling on someone, you point it at them or direct it at them.

If you turn to a particular page in a book or magazine, you open it at that page.

If you turn your attention or thoughts to a particular subject or if you turn to it, you start thinking about it or discussing it.

If you turn to someone, you ask for their help or advice.

If you turn to a particular activity, job, or way of doing something, you start doing or using it.

To turn or be turned into something means to become that thing.

You can use turn before an adjective to indicate that something or someone changes by acquiring the quality described by the adjective.

If something turns a particular colour or if something turns it a particular colour, it becomes that colour.

You can use turn to indicate that there is a change to a particular kind of weather. For example, if it turns cold, the weather starts being cold.

If a business turns a profit, it earns more money than it spends.

When someone turns a particular age, they pass that age. When it turns a particular time, it passes that time.