📒 to move or make something move around a central point
- The wheels of the car began to turn.
- I can't get the screw to turn.
- + adv./prep. The blades of the helicopter were turning slowly.
📒 to move your body or part of your body so as to face or start moving in a different direction
- We turned and headed for home.
- turn to do something She turned to look at me.
- + adv./prep. He turned back to his work.
📒 to move something so that it is in a different position or facing a different direction
- She turned the chair on its side to repair it.
- Turn the sweater inside out before you wash it.
📒 to change the direction you are moving or travelling in; to make something change the direction it is moving in
- turn into something He turned into a narrow street.
- + adv./prep. We turned down a dark alleyway.
- turn left/right Turn left at the traffic lights.
📒 to bend or curve in a particular direction
- The road turns to the left after the church.
- After a while the path turns sharply right.
- The river turns north at this point.
📒 if you turn a page of a book or magazine, you move it so that you can read the next page
- turn something He sat turning the pages idly.
- turn to something Turn to p.23.
📒 to change into a particular state or condition; to make something do this
- + adj. The leaves were turning brown.
- They say her hair turned white overnight.
- I could feel my face turn red with embarrassment.
📒 to aim or point something in a particular direction
- turn something on somebody/something/yourself Police turned water cannon on the rioters.
- He turned the gun on himself.
- turn something to somebody/something/yourself She looked at him then turned her attention back to me.
📒 to start to come in or go out
- The tide is turning—we'd better get back.
📒 to make or let somebody/something go into a particular place or state
- turn something + adv./prep. They turned the horse into the field.
- turn something + adj. to turn the dogs loose
📒 to fold something in a particular way
- She turned down the blankets and climbed into bed.
- He turned up the collar of his coat and hurried out into the rain.
📒 to perform a movement by moving your body in a circle
- to turn cartwheels/somersaults
📒 if a game turns or somebody turns it, it changes the way it is developing so that a different person or team starts to win
📒 to reach or pass a particular age or time
- She turns 21 in June.
- It's turned midnight.
📒 when your stomach turns or something turns your stomach, you feel as though you will vomit
📒 to shape something on a lathe
- to turn a chair leg
- turned boxes and bowls
📒 as was shown or proved by later events
- I didn't need my umbrella, as it turned out (= because it didn't rain).
📒 to be well, badly, etc. dressed
📒 likely to be very shocked or angry
- My father would turn in his grave if he knew.
📒 used to report what somebody says or does, when this is surprising or annoying
- How could she turn round and say that, after all I've done for her?