turn
Cross references:
1. curve
1. turn or turn a hand \'t*rn\ vb [ME turnen; partly fr. OE tyrnan &
turnian to turn, fr. ML [fr. turn the tables to reverse the relative
positions as in a board game]Xtornare, fr. L, to turn on a lathe, fr.
tornus lathe, fr. Gk tornos; partly fr. OF torner, tourner to turn, fr. ML
tornare; akin to L terere to rub - more at THROW 1a: to cause to move
around an axis or a center : make rotate or revolve {~ a wheel ~ a crank}
1b1: to cause to move around so as to effect a desired end (as of locking,
opening, or shutting) {~ a key} 1b2: to affect or alter the functioning of
(as a mechanical device) by suc h movement {~ed the lamp down} 1c: to
execute or perform by rotating or revolving {~ handsprings)> 1d: to twist
out of line or shape : WRENCH {~ing his ankle painfully} 2a1: to cause to
change position by moving through an arc of a circle {(R@ed his chair to
the fire} 2a2: to cause to move around a center so as to show another side
of {@ a page of a book} 2a3: to cause (as a scale) to move so as to
register weight 2a4: to cause to move or stir in any way {~ a finger to
help} 2b: to revolve mentally : think over : PONDER 3a: to reverse the
sides or surfaces of : INVERT {~ pancak es}: 3a1: to dig or plow so as to
bring the lower soil to the surface 3a2: to make (as a garment) over by
reversing the material and resewing (~ a collar} 3a3: to invert feet up and
face down (as a character, rule, or slug) in se tting type 3b: to reverse
or upset the order or disposition of {everything ~(Xed topsy-turvy} 3c: to
disturb or upset the mental balance of : DERANGE, UNSETT LE {a mind ~ed by
grief} {success had not ~ed his head} 3d: to cause (the stomach) to revolt
3e: to set in another esp. contrary direction 4a: to bend or change the
course of : DIVERT 4b: to cause to retreat {used fire hoses to ~ the mob}
4c: to alter the drift, tendency, or expected result of 4d: to bend a
course around or about : ROUND {~ed th e corner at full speed} 4e: to pass
or go beyond (as an amount, age, or time) {clock had just R@ed ten} 5a1: to
direct or point (as the face) in a specified way or direction 5a2: to
present by a change in direction or position {~ing h is back to his guests}
5b: to bring to bear (as by aiming, pointing, or focusing) : TRAIN {~ed
his light into the dark doorway} 5c: to direct (as the attention or mind)
toward or away from something 5d: to induce or influence (a person) to
change his way of life 5e: to direct the employment of : APPLY, DEVOTE
5f1: to cause to rebound or recoil {~s their argument agains them} 5f2: to
make antagonistic : PREJUDICE {~ a child against h is mother} 5g1: to cause
to go in a particular direction {~ed its steps homeward} 5g2: DRIVE, SEND
{~ cows to pasture} {officers wer e ~ed adrift by the mutineers} {~ing
hunters off his land} 5g3: to convey or direct into or out of a receptacle
by inverting 6a1: to make acid or sour : CURDLE, FERMENT 6a2: to change
the color of (as foliage) 6b1: CONVERT, TRANSFORM {~ defeat into victory}
6b2: TRANSLATE, PARAPHRASE 6c: to cause to become of a specified nature or
appearance {~ed him into a fiend} {illness ~ed his hair white} 6d: to
exchange for something else {~ coins into paper money} 7a: to shape esp.
in a rounded form by applying a cutting tool while revol ving in a lathe
7b: to give a rounded form to by any means {~ the heel of a sock> 7c: to
shape or mold artistically, gracefully, or neatly {well ~Xed ankles} {a
knack for ~ing a phrase} 8: to make a fold, bend, or curve in : 8a: to
form by bending {~ a lead pipe} 8b: to cause (the edge of a blade) to bend
back or over : BLUNT, (MDULL 9a: to keep (as money or goods) moving; specif
: to dispose of (a stock) to make room for another 9b: to gain by passing
in trade {~ing a quick profit} 1a: to move around on an axis or through an
arc of a circle : ROTATE)M 1b: to become giddy or dizzy : REEL {heights
always made his hea d ~} 1c1: HINGE 1c2: to have a center (as of interest)
in something specified 2a: to direct one's course 2b1: to reverse a
course or direction 2b2: to have a reactive usu. adverse effect : RECOIL
2c: to take a different course or direction {~ed toward home } {main road
~s sharp right} 3a: to change position so as to face another way 3b: to
face toward or away from someone or something 3c: to change one's attitude
or reverse one's course of action to one of o pposition or hostility {felt
the world had ~ed against him} {~ed upon them with ferocity} 3d: to make a
sudden violent assault esp. without evident cause {dogs R@ing on their
owners} 4a: to direct one's attention or thoughts to or away from someone
or somet hing 4b1: to change one's religion 4b2: to go over to another
side or party : DEFECT 4c: to betake oneself (as for information, help, or
support) : have reco urse : REFER, RESORT 4d: to direct one's efforts or
interests : devote or apply oneself {R@ed to the study of the law} 5a: to
become changed, altered, or transformed : as archaic 5a1: to become
different 5a2: to change color {the leaves have ~ed} 5a3: to become sour,
rancid, or tainted {the milk had ~ed} 5a4: to be variable or inconstant
5a5: to become mentally unbalanced : become deranged 5b1: to pass from one
state to another : CHANGE {water had ~)Red to ice} 5b2: GROW {hair had ~ed
gray} {weather ~e d bad} 5b3: to become someone or something specified by
change from another state : change into {~ traitor doctors ~ed authors} 6:
to become curved or bent (as from pressure); esp : to become bl unted by
bending {edge of the knife had ~ed} 7: to operate a lathe of merchandise
8: to be stocked and disposed of : change hands : to give a sign of
discomposure or disturbance - used in negative cons tructions {never turned
a hair} 1: to become of a different color 2a: BLUSH, FLUSH 2b: to grow
pale 1a: to set free 1b: to free from all restraints 2: to fire off :
DISCHARGE 3: to open fire : to go over to the opposite party 1: to
engage in manual work 2: to set to work : apply oneself : to disgust
completely : NAUSEATE, SICKEN : to run away 1: to register weight {hand
baggage turned the scale at 60 pounds)> 2: to decide or determine something
doubtful : prove decisive : to bring about a reversal of the relative
conditions or fortunes of two contending persons or parties : to bring
about the desired result or effect : CAPSIZE, OVERTURN - turn a hair
2. turn n [ME; partly fr. OF tourn, tour lathe, circuit, turn (partly f]r.
L tornus lathe; partly fr. OF torner, tourner to turn); partly fr. ME
turnen to turn 1a: the action or an act of turning about a center or axis :
REVOLUTIO N, ROTATION 1b1: any of various rotating or pivoting movements in
dancing 1b2: a swing by a gymnast of less than a circle around a bar 2a:
the action or an act of giving or taking a different direction : chan ge of
course or posture {illegal left ~} : : as 2a1: a drill maneuver in which
troops in mass formation change direction wi thout preserving alignment
2a2: any of various shifts of direction in skiing 2a3: an interruption of
a curve in figure skating 2b: DEFLECTION, DEVIATION 2c: the action or an
act of turning so as to face in the opposite direction : reversal of
posture or course {an about ~} {~ of the tide} 2d: a change effected by
turning over to another side {~ of the car ds} 2e: a place at which
something turns, turns off, or turns back : BEND)M, CURVE 3a: an act of
walking briefly around or out and back {a short ~ thr ough the garden} 3b:
a short trip out and back or round about archaic 4: STRATAGEM, TRICK 5:
an act or deed affecting another esp. when incidental or unexpected {o ne
good ~ deserves another} 6a: a period of action or activity : GO, SPELL;
specif : a bout of wrestling 6b: a place, time, or opportunity accorded an
individual or unit of a serie s in simple succession or in a scheduled
order {waiting his ~ in a doctor's office} 6c: a period or tour of duty :
SHIFT 6d: a short act as for a variety show 6e1: an event in any gambling
game after which bets are settled 6e2: the order of the last three cards
in faro - used in the phrase ca ll the turn 7: something that revolves
around a center : as 7a1: LATHE 7a2: a catch or latch for a cupboard or
cabinet door operated by turning a handle 7b: a musical ornament
consisting of a group of four or more notes that win d about the principal
note by including the notes next above and next below 8: a special purpose
or requirement - used chiefly in the phrase serve one's turn 9a: an act of
changing : ALTERATION, MODIFICATION {a nasty ~ in the weather} 9b: a
change in tendency, trend, or drift {hoped for a ~ in his luc k} {a ~ for
the better} 9c: the time when something changes its direction or its course
{~ of the year} 10a: distinctive quality or character 10b1: a skillful
fashioning of language or arrangement of words 10b2: a particular form of
expression or peculiarity of phrasing 10c: the shape or mold in which
something is fashioned : CAST 11a: the state or manner of being coiled or
twisted 11b: a single round (as of rope passed about an object or of wire
wound on a core) 12: natural or special ability or aptitude : BENT,
INCLINATIONM {a ~ for logic} {an optimistic ~ of mind} 13: a special twist,
construction, or interpretation {gave the old yarn a new ~} 14a: a
disordering spell or attack (as of illness, faintness, or dizziness) 14b:
a nervous start or shock 15a: a complete transaction involving a purchase
and sale of securities; Xalso : a profit from such a transaction 15b:
TURNOVER 16: something turned or to be turned : as 16a: a character or
slug inverted in setting type 16b: a piece of type placed bottom up : on
every occasion : CONSTANTLY, CONTINUALLY : one after another in regular
succession : ALTERNATELY, SUCCES SIVELY : in due order of succession :
SUCCESSIVELY, ALTERNATELY : at the point of turning {tide is on the turn}
1: not in due order of succession {play out of turn} 2: at a wrong time or
place : IMPRUDENTLY, UNWISELY {talkin g out of turn} : to perfection :
precisely right : PERFECTLY - at every turn
Webster's English Dictionary