TURN

Pronunciation (US):

• TURN (noun)
  The noun TURN has 12 senses:

1. a circular segment of a curve
2. the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
3. (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
4. an unforeseen development
5. a movement in a new direction
6. the act of turning away or in the opposite direction
7. turning or twisting around (in place)
8. a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
9. (sports) a period of play during which one team is on the offensive
10. a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program
11. a favor for someone
12. taking a short walk out and back

  Familiarity information: TURN used as a noun is familiar.

• TURN (verb)
  The verb TURN has 26 senses:

1. change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
2. undergo a change or development
3. undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
4. cause to move around or rotate
5. pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
6. to send or let go
7. pass to the other side of
8. move around an axis or a center
9. cause to move around a center so as to show another side of
10. change to the contrary
11. to break and turn over earth especially with a plow
12. change color
13. cause to change or turn into something different;assume new characteristics
14. let (something) fall or spill a container
15. twist suddenly so as to sprain
16. shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel
17. go sour or spoil
18. accomplish by rotating
19. get by buying and selling
20. cause to move along an axis or into a new direction
21. channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention toward or away from something
22. cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form
23. alter the functioning or setting of
24. direct at someone
25. have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to
26. become officially one year older

  Familiarity information: TURN used as a verb is very familiar.

• TURN (noun)

Sense 1

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A circular segment of a curve

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

turn; bend; crook; twist

Context examples:

a bend in the road / a crook in the path

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

curve; curved shape (the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turn"):

bight (a bend or curve (especially in a coastline))

Sense 2

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

turning; turn

Context example:

he took a turn to the right

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

change of course (a change in the direction that you are moving)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turn"):

version (manual turning of a fetus in the uterus (usually to aid delivery))

three-point turn (the act of turning a vehicle around in a limited space by moving in a series of back and forward arcs)

swerve; swerving; veering (the act of turning aside suddenly)

telemark (a turn made in skiing; the outside ski is placed ahead and turned gradually inwards)

stem; stem turn (a turn made in skiing; the back of one ski is forced outward and the other ski is brought parallel to it)

kick turn (a standing turn made in skiing; one ski is raised to the vertical and pivoted backward to become parallel with the other ski but headed in the opposite direction and then the other ski is aligned with the first)

left (a turn toward the side of the body that is on the north when the person is facing east)

right (a turn toward the side of the body that is on the south when the person is facing east)

deflection; deflexion; deviation; digression; divagation; diversion (a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern))

Sense 3

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

turn; play

Context examples:

it is my turn / it is still my play

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

activity (any specific behavior)

Domain category:

game (a contest with rules to determine a winner)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turn"):

trick ((card games) in a single round, the sequence of cards played by all the players; the high card is the winner)

ruff; trumping ((card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit)

lead (the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge)

at-bat; bat ((baseball) a turn trying to get a hit)

down ((American football) a complete play to advance the football)

attack (an offensive move in a sport or game)

innings (the batting turn of a cricket player or team)

start; starting (a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning))

move ((game) a player's turn to take some action permitted by the rules of the game)

Sense 4

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

An unforeseen development

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

turn of events; twist; turn

Context example:

events suddenly took an awkward turn

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

development (a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation)

Sense 5

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A movement in a new direction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

turning; turn

Context example:

the turning of the wind

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

motion; movement (a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turn"):

coming back; return (the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction)

gyration; revolution; rotation (a single complete turn (axial or orbital))

swerve; yaw (an erratic deflection from an intended course)

reversal; turn around (turning in an opposite direction or position)

volution (a rolling or revolving motion)

Sense 6

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of turning away or in the opposite direction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he made an abrupt turn away from her

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

change of direction; reorientation (the act of changing the direction in which something is oriented)

Sense 7

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Turning or twisting around (in place)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

turn; twist

Context example:

with a quick twist of his head he surveyed the room

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

rotary motion; rotation (the act of rotating as if on an axis)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turn"):

twiddle (a series of small (usually idle) twists or turns)

Sense 8

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

go; spell; tour; turn

Context examples:

it's my go / a spell of work

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

duty period; shift; work shift (the time period during which you are at work)

Sense 9

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

(sports) a period of play during which one team is on the offensive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

bout; round; turn

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

period of play; play; playing period ((in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turn"):

top; top of the inning (the first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat)

bottom; bottom of the inning (the second half of an inning; while the home team is at bat)

Sense 10

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

routine; number; act; bit; turn

Context examples:

he did his act three times every evening / she had a catchy little routine / it was one of the best numbers he ever did

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

performance; public presentation (a dramatic or musical entertainment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "turn"):

show-stopper; showstopper; stopper (an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down)

Sense 11

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A favor for someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

good turn; turn

Context example:

he did me a good turn

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

favor; favour (an act of gracious kindness)

Sense 12

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Taking a short walk out and back

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

we took a turn in the park

Hypernyms ("turn" is a kind of...):

walk (the act of walking somewhere)

• TURN (verb)

Sense 1

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

overturn; tip over; tump over; turn over (turn from an upright or normal position)

bend (change direction)

curve; cut; sheer; slew; slue; swerve; trend; veer (turn sharply; change direction abruptly)

deflect (turn aside and away from an initial or intended course)

bend; deflect; turn away (turn from a straight course , fixed direction, or line of interest)

avert; turn away (turn away or aside)

rotate; splay; spread out; turn out (turn outward)

circumvolve; rotate (cause to turn on an axis or center)

pivot; swivel (turn on a pivot)

coil; gyrate; spiral (to wind or move in a spiral course)

corkscrew; spiral (move in a spiral or zigzag course)

deviate; divert (turn aside; turn away from)

pronate (turn the forearm or the hand so that the palm is directed downwards)

corner (turn a corner)

caracole (make a half turn on a horse, in dressage)

twist (turn in the opposite direction)

flip; flip over; turn over (turn upside down, or throw so as to reverse)

turn on a dime (have a small turning radius)

roll; turn over (move by turning over or rotating)

roll over (make a rolling motion or turn)

swing about; swing around; turn around (turn abruptly and face the other way, either physically or metaphorically)

flip; toss (lightly throw to see which side comes up)

port (turn or go to the port or left side, of a ship)

about-face (turn, usually 180 degrees)

gee (turn to the right side)

turn away (move so as not face somebody or something)

turn off (make a turn)

face (turn so as to face; turn the face in a certain direction)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sentence example:

They turn the car down the avenue

Also:

turn away (turn from a straight course , fixed direction, or line of interest)

turn back (retrace one's course)

turn to (speak to)

Sense 2

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Undergo a change or development

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

become; turn

Context examples:

The water turned into ice / Her former friend became her worst enemy / He turned traitor

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

metamorphose; transform; transmute (change in outward structure or looks)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

boil down; come down; reduce (be the essential element)

choke; suffocate (become stultified, suppressed, or stifled)

nucleate (form into a nucleus)

add up; amount; come (develop into)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 3

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Undergo a transformation or a change of position or action

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

change state; turn

Context examples:

We turned from Socialism to Capitalism / The people turned against the President when he stole the election

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

fill; fill up (become full)

homogenise; homogenize (become homogeneous or similar, as by mixing)

homogenise; homogenize (break up the fat globules of)

clabber; clot; curdle (turn into curds)

clot; coagulate (change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state)

ferment; sour; turn; work (go sour or spoil)

integrate (become one; become integrated)

discharge; empty (become empty or void of its content)

dissolve; fade away; fade out (become weaker)

react (undergo a chemical reaction; react with another substance under certain conditions)

solvate (undergo solvation or convert into a solvate)

inspissate; thicken (become thick or thicker)

thin (lose thickness; become thin or thinner)

Frenchify (become French in appearance or character)

emaciate (grow weak and thin or waste away physically)

burn; combust (undergo combustion)

boil (come to the boiling point and change from a liquid to vapor)

precipitate (separate as a fine suspension of solid particles)

calcify (turn into lime; become calcified)

liquefy (become liquid)

get into; tangle with (get involved in or with)

emancipate; liberate (give equal rights to; of women and minorities)

flourish; fly high; prosper; thrive (gain in wealth)

calm; calm down; chill out; cool it; cool off; settle down; simmer down (become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation)

sorb; take up (take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption)

close; shut (become closed)

open; open up (become open)

thrombose (become blocked by a thrombus)

etherify (change into an ether)

esterify (change (a compound) into an ester)

denitrify (remove nitrogen from)

emulsify (form into or become an emulsion)

chondrify (turn into cartilage)

carnify (become muscular or fleshy)

coke (become coke)

catch fire; combust; conflagrate; erupt; ignite; take fire (start to burn or burst into flames)

freeze (change to ice)

arouse; awake; awaken; come alive; wake; wake up; waken (stop sleeping)

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)

decline; worsen (grow worse)

become; get; go (enter or assume a certain state or condition)

fall (pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind)

equilibrate (bring to a chemical stasis or equilibrium)

citrate (cause to form a salt or ester of citric acid)

secularise; secularize (make secular and draw away from a religious orientation)

conceive (become pregnant; undergo conception)

cross-fertilise; cross-fertilize (undergo cross-fertilization; become fertile)

apparel; clothe; dress; enclothe; fit out; garb; garment; habilitate; raiment; tog (provide with clothes or put clothes on)

gain; put on (increase (one's body weight))

lose weight; melt off; reduce; slenderize; slim; slim down; thin (take off weight)

decompress; loosen up; relax; slow down; unbend; unwind (become less tense, rest, or take one's ease)

tense; tense up (become tense, nervous, or uneasy)

come to; resuscitate; revive (return to consciousness)

black out; pass out; zonk out (lose consciousness due to a sudden trauma, for example)

disengage (become free)

overgrow (become overgrown)

carbonise; carbonize; carburise; carburize (unite with carbon)

heat; heat up; hot up (gain heat or get hot)

chill; cool; cool down (loose heat)

carbonise; carbonize (turn into carbon, as by burning)

cloud over (become overcast)

be born (come into existence through birth)

buy the farm; cash in one's chips; choke; conk; croak; decease; die; drop dead; exit; expire; give-up the ghost; go; kick the bucket; pass; pass away; perish; pop off; snuff it (pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life)

break loose; burst forth; explode (be unleashed; emerge with violence or noise)

fluctuate (be unstable)

get worse; relapse (deteriorate in health)

concentrate (make (the solvent of a solution) dense or denser)

break (crack; of the male voice in puberty)

acetify; acidify (turn acidic)

alkalify; alkalise; alkalize; basify (turn basic and less acidic)

ionise; ionize (convert into ions)

ossify (become bony)

catalyse; catalyze (change by catalysis or cause to catalyze)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Also:

turn around (get better)

turn off (cause to feel intense dislike or distaste)

Sense 4

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cause to move around or rotate

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context examples:

turn a key / turn your palm this way

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

port (put or turn on the left side, of a ship)

supinate (turn (the hand or forearm) so that the back is downward or backward, or turn out (the leg))

reorient (cause to turn)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

grow; turn

Context examples:

The weather turned nasty / She grew angry

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

bald (grow bald; lose hair on one's head)

turn (change color)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Something ----s Adjective/Noun

Sentence example:

John will turn angry

Sense 6

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

To send or let go

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

They turned away the crowd at the gate of the governor's mansion

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

direct; send (cause to go somewhere)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 7

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Pass to the other side of

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

move around; turn

Context examples:

turn the corner / move around the obstacle

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 8

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Move around an axis or a center

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The wheels are turning

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

go around; revolve; rotate (turn on or around an axis or a center)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sense 9

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cause to move around a center so as to show another side of

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

turn over; turn

Context example:

turn a page of a book

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

evert (turn inside out; turn the inner surface of outward)

leaf (turn over pages)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They turn the coin

Sense 10

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Change to the contrary

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

reverse; change by reversal; turn

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

metamorphose; transfigure; transmogrify (change completely the nature or appearance of)

regress; retrovert; return; revert; turn back (go back to a previous state)

desynchronise; desynchronize (cause to become desynchronized; cause to occur at unrelated times)

deconsecrate; desecrate; unhallow (remove the consecration from a person or an object)

undo (cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect)

commute; permute; transpose (change the order or arrangement of)

falsify (falsify knowingly)

correct; rectify; right (make right or correct)

exchange; switch; switch over (change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence)

commutate (reverse the direction of (an alternating electric current) each half cycle so as to produce a unidirectional current)

turn the tables; turn the tide (cause a complete reversal of the circumstances)

alternate; flip; flip-flop; interchange; switch; tack (reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Also:

turn off (cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch)

turn on (cause to operate by flipping a switch)

Sense 11

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

To break and turn over earth especially with a plow

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

plow; plough; turn

Context examples:

Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week / turn the earth in the Spring

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

till (work land as by ploughing, harrowing, and manuring, in order to make it ready for cultivation)

"Turn" entails doing...:

cut into; delve; dig; turn over (turn up, loosen, or remove earth)

Domain category:

agriculture; farming; husbandry (the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

ridge (plough alternate strips by throwing the furrow onto an unploughed strip)

disk; harrow (draw a harrow over (land))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sense 12

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Change color

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

In Vermont, the leaves turn early

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

grow; turn (pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become)

color; colour; discolor; discolour (change color, often in an undesired manner)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 13

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cause to change or turn into something different;assume new characteristics

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context examples:

The princess turned the frog into a prince by kissing him / The alchemists tried to turn lead into gold

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 14

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Let (something) fall or spill a container

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

release; turn

Context example:

turn the flour onto a plate

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

channel; channelise; channelize; transfer; transmit; transport (send from one person or place to another)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

throw (throw (a die) out onto a flat surface)

deflate (release contained air or gas from)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 15

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Twist suddenly so as to sprain

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

sprain; wrick; rick; wrench; twist; turn

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

injure; wound (cause injuries or bodily harm to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he turn his foot?

Sense 16

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context examples:

turn the legs of the table / turn the clay on the wheel

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

form; shape (give shape or form to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The girls turn the wooden sticks

Sense 17

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Go sour or spoil

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

sour; ferment; turn; work

Context examples:

The milk has soured / The wine worked / The cream has turned--we have to throw it out

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 18

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Accomplish by rotating

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context examples:

turn a somersault / turn cartwheels

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

do; perform (get (something) done)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 19

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Get by buying and selling

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

the company turned a good profit after a year

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Domain category:

commerce; commercialism; mercantilism (transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 20

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cause to move along an axis or into a new direction

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context examples:

turn your face to the wall / turn the car around / turn your dance partner around

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

bring about (cause to move into the opposite direction)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 21

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention toward or away from something

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context examples:

The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction / people turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

direct; send (cause to go somewhere)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

take up (turn one's interest to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 22

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

twist; bend; deform; flex; turn

Context examples:

bend the rod / twist the dough into a braid / the strong man could turn an iron bar

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn"):

dent; indent (make a depression into)

incurvate (cause to curve inward)

gnarl (twist into a state of deformity)

crank (bend into the shape of a crank)

convolute; convolve (curl, wind, or twist together)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 23

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Alter the functioning or setting of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context examples:

turn the dial to 10 / turn the heat down

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

control; operate (handle and cause to function)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 24

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Direct at someone

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context examples:

She turned a smile on me / They turned their flashlights on the car

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (aim or direct at; as of blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 25

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

call on; turn

Context examples:

She called on her Representative to help her / She turned to her relatives for help

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

appeal; invoke (request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sense 26

turn [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Become officially one year older

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

She is turning 50 this year

Hypernyms (to "turn" is one way to...):

age; get on; maturate; mature; senesce (grow old or older)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s