1Move in a circular direction wholly or partly round an axis or point.

1. 1.1with object Perform (a somersault or cartwheel)
   the boy shot up off the ground and turned a somersault in the air

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The fourth, and possibly most pertinent, question is whether young girls today ever turn cartwheels.
   • By the time the guests arrived she wasn't turning cartwheels, but she was pretty perky.
   • Chelsea laughed, turning a cartwheel across the green.
   • Hurrying from the room, his mind turned dizzying somersaults with thoughts of his missing wife and what her reappearance might mean.
   • Her wingman obeyed, turning a somersault and ending up flying straight at the Flankers.
   • At his feet is a dog turning a cartwheel, seemingly to the snap of Wolfe's fingers.
   • Germans were always solemn; a pig turning somersaults could not make them smile.
   • More than that, she adds, being able to balance on her hands, to turn cartwheels, to tumble and flip is part of who she is.
   • Feeling the urge to vomit, his stomach was currently turning cartwheels.
   • He popped into the air and flew over several disorderly piles of stuff, turning somersaults as he went.
   • Even Carolyn could turn a cartwheel, so Ellie doubted that she could make the squad.
   • When a boy can turn cartwheels, his colour and country of origin are of no importance at all.
   • When I stand up the room tips a little as if I'm wasted, and my stomach is currently turning somersaults.
   • But the lawyers need to turn some somersaults before they can get there.
   • He bit his lip, trying to avoid looking at either the ship or the sea itself; both were already making him nauseous and he could feel his stomach turning somersaults.
   • Moray eels shout at you in silent warning from their crevices and rays have been known to turn somersault.
   • Who cares whether he's turning somersaults or running off to the sideline to get water (actually he played pretty well).
   • Rhea jumped up, kicking off from the demon's shoulders, turning a high somersault across the room.
   • It's easy, but frightening, to imagine Eagles coach Andy Reid turning cartwheels if he actually were to get Williams.
   • Suppose that he happened to glance around and notice a monkey turning a somersault.

   Synonyms

   perform, execute, do, carry out
2. 1.2with object Twist or sprain (an ankle)
   Wright turned his ankle in the first minute of the game

   Example sentencesExamples

   • One person twisted or turned his or her ankle.
   • The beachside is a mess, and Hillary for one would not like to risk a stroll along the seafront in case of turning my finely turned ankle.
   • Sprained ankles commonly result from tripping or turning the ankle the wrong way.

   Synonyms

   sprain, twist, rick, wrench

   hurt, injure

2with object and adverbial Move (something) so that it is in a different position in relation to its surroundings or its previous position.

1. 2.1no object Change the position of one's body so that one is facing in a different direction.
   Charlie turned and looked at his friend

   Example sentencesExamples

   • He turned so his body was toward me and put an elbow on the tabletop, his head in his hand, propping it up.
   • Gia turned from her crouched position and took in the features of the man lying on the table.
   • I shook my head, turning away from the body that she held limply.
   • Slowly his body turned and he took a step forward, followed by another and then another.
   • I opened my eyes and forced my body to turn just in time to stop myself from landing on my stomach.
   • She bent down, picked up her cloak, and wrapped it back around her body before turning around.
   • My hips and body are turning faster, which knocks my timing out.
   • The way the shape of her body changed as she turned and walked away.
   • As if out of body, he turned and picked her up, idly stroking her head before setting her on the ground.
   • She quickly turned again to see nothing… again.
   • He turned and used his body as a barrier between her and the ball, moving from side to side to try and get around her.
   • Watch people turn round to see what's on.
   • Finn hadn't noticed that I was awake by now, so I just enjoyed my present position before turning around to face him.
   • Chris brought himself to a sitting position and gasped, turning around to see her facing him.
   • The man turns around from his position and looks down upon the face of the woman below him.
   • With a twist of his body, Vince turned so that his left leg was now resting on top of the broken wall of stone.
   • He turned from his position at the window to see which one of the three it was this time.
   • She led him to the edge of the pool then turned around so her body was against his.
   • He's very effective as a receiver if he has time to get his body turned downfield after the catch.
   • She easily rotates her body, turning so she isn't vertical anymore, but horizontal, facing me and on all fours, her claws dug into the wood and drawing sap.

   Synonyms

   change direction, turn round, change course, make a u-turn, reverse direction
2. 2.2 Move (something) so as to be aimed or pointed in a particular direction.
   she turned her head towards me

   the government has now turned its attention to primary schools

   Example sentencesExamples

   • At this, Colby turned his gaze upward in thought.
   • I turned my gaze upward, trying to concentrate on something else.
   • We have to turn our minds and attention to the serious challenge about what to do about social conditions.
   • The horse gave the man one last fleeting glance before turning his head towards the direction of the forest and breaking into a gallop.
   • If you're like me and your attention is starting to turn toward home, this issue offers plenty of ideas.
   • The appearance of a comet attracted Harriot's attention and turned his scientific mind towards astronomy.
   • Once May Day is over, direct activists are to turn their attentions to a huge arms exhibition at the end of the summer.
   • On close inspection, you will see that butterflies have very large eyes, allowing them to see in every direction without turning their heads.
   • The scene between Kimberly and Gaines, where she tries to attract attention by beating on the windows and he lazily turns the gun towards her, was a nice moment.
   • The old man turns his gaze directly across the street.
   • Now he is turning his hand to directing a feature film for the first time.
   • She scoffed his direction as she turned her head toward her sandwich once more.
   • Several curious onlookers turn their heads towards the direction of the laughter.
   • Eventually, Zem turned his gaze upward, to the stars, thinking.
   • After William's death, Mrs. Morel turns her love and attention to Paul.
   • She suddenly felt like she was going in a wrong direction and she turned her head and ran smack into a corner.
   • I hopped up quickly, cautiously moving around, rolling my eyes in every direction, turning my head every which way.
   • During the mating season, birds' attention turns toward nesting.
   • Afraid to look in her direction now, he sat up slowly and turned his back toward her.
   • After a week like no other, people turned a sad, wary eye skyward on their way to work.

   Synonyms

   aim at, point at, level at, direct at, train at, focus on
3. 2.3 Change or cause to change direction.
   no object, with adverbial of direction we turned round and headed back to the house

   Example sentencesExamples

   • They turned round once more towards Holme and drove slowly back to the spot.
   • With in-flight turns, first move your eyes in the direction the aircraft is turning - then follow with your head.
   • Giving a fleeting look at his mother in the car, he turned and walked towards the dorms.
   • The beast turned a different way and tore up the hallway, many screams following.
   • I went down to the end of the road and turned left in the direction of the newsagent.
   • Popo turned, and saw his black car turning left, headed towards one of the main exit highways.
   • The figure reacted as if she had transformed into a ghost, turning away and moving back in the direction they had come with considerably more speed than they had used in their approach.
   • Then he said the car turned towards the pavement but the driver appeared to change her mind at the last minute.
   • Giles froze and listened to Wes as he gave directions to Gunn to turn the boat and head back to shore.
   • Give us your take on St. Petersburg as a whole and the first time ever that the IndyCar Series cars turned both right and left.
   • The taller, thinner Lewis moves haphazardly, turning here and there, unsure where to go.
   • Tim frowned, then shook his head and gritted his teeth, turning down a different street, changing direction.
   • The robber stole cash before making off on foot and turning left in the direction of Braintree.
   • The prey very soon learns that just running away from the predator as fast as it can is doomed to failure, whereas turning randomly to move in a zig-zag fashion is much more successful.

   Synonyms

   bend, curve, wind, twist, loop, meander, snake, zigzag
4. 2.4no object (of the tide) change from flood to ebb or vice versa.
   as the tide turned he finally managed to bring the barge into its berth

   Example sentencesExamples

   • To get a bait out to the fish as soon as the tide turns I use a party balloon to trot the bait to the fish.
   • They were going north-east, but when the tide turned, they would sweep back towards the south-west.
   • And then, like the tide turning, I felt a great rushing and churning inside.
   • Being local lads, Paul and myself are more than aware that Cougar fans have had more than their fair share of ups and downs over the last few seasons, but now I feel that the tide is turning for us again.
   • However, with today's Law Lords decision and the government's defeat on detention without charge the tide may finally be turning.
   • As an industry, we still have a long way to go - but the tide is turning.
   • The tide started turning during the '70s, mostly due to economic factors.
   • The ocean's tide is turning as Covel heads back to Cordova.
   • The flood of people running for the gates rolled back, like a tide turning, and the people scattered, no longer a single united mass.
   • The sky is closing in, darker clouds sweeping in almost as fast as the tide has turned.
   • When the tide turns and the water becomes slack, the dives are dull, with little wildlife.
   • Perhaps they haven't realized that the tide is turning.
   • A little after 2pm the tide turned and it ran like the proverbial clappers.
   • And there are some pointers that the tide is turning, even if slowly.
   • Dracula called in a fog to keep the boat docked until after the tide turned, so that he could board it.
   • How long before the tide turns and takes half of it back out again?
   • But signs from the US may show the tide is turning.
   • Following the destruction of the American fleet at Pearl Harbour, the tide had slowly turned.
   • However, it took so long that the tide turned and started to pull her out of place.
   • By 3pm the tide had turned and the boats were approaching the Crossness sewage outfall at Belvedere.
5. 2.5with object Move (a page) over so that it is flat against the previous or next page.
   she turned a page noisily

   no object turn to page five for the answer

   Example sentencesExamples

   • As soon as the first page has been turned the author's shock tactics come out in full force.
   • You can not help but turn each and every page in succession, until you reach the end.
   • The romantic comedy takes flight, and it is hard to put the book down until the last page has been turned.
   • He turned a few more pages and saw a pic of him and Emily which was taken at the Bacchanalia.
   • For more information on how you can help these charities, turn to page 2, or you can fill out the form in the Concern advert on this page.
   • It turns a very sad page in the history of this government.
   • Conscientious readers will find it slow going unless they overcome the constant temptation to turn to the references section.
   • She turned a few more pages until she came across some recipes for low fat treats.
   • If he had turned one more page, he would have seen all of the drawings I had done of him.
   • I turned a few more pages, seeing the cast of characters and a few more illustrations.
   • The page had to be turned, he argued, in the interests of the nation.

   Synonyms

   flip over, flick over/through, leaf through
6. 2.6 Fold or unfold (fabric or a piece of a garment) in the specified way.
   he turned up the collar of his coat

   Synonyms

   double, double over, double up, crease, turn under, turn up, turn over, bend, overlap
7. 2.7with object Pass round (the flank or defensive lines of an army) so as to attack it from the side or rear.
   there was still the sea, by way of which the Persians hoped to turn all mountain or isthmus defence lines

   Example sentencesExamples

   • With almost 80,000 men Wellington outnumbered the French, and tried to pin Joseph to his position by a frontal attack while turning his flank.
8. 2.8archaic with object Bend back (the edge of a blade) so as to make it blunt.
   thou hast also turned the edge of his sword
9. 2.9with object Remake (a garment or a sheet), putting the worn outer side on the inside.
   a sheet that Mrs Dibb wanted turned sides to middle

3Change or cause to change in nature, state, form, or colour; become or make.

1. 3.1with object and complement or adverbial Send or put into a specified place or condition.
   the dogs were turned loose on the crowd

   Example sentencesExamples

   • He's great at delegating, giving you an assignment, and then turning you loose on it and not trying to micromanage you or second-guess you.
   • Coach Jon Gruden says Woodson will be turned loose more often as a blitzer and used as a slot receiver.
   • He must have been a powerful presence in a variety of ways when you cranked him up and turned him loose in church.
   • She stopped at that hand, turning Tara loose to run with the other horses.
   • Well, if you make a tea out of the leaves, root, flowers, or seed of that plant, it will turn you every which way but loose.
   • When you give an order, you're actually turning someone loose.
   • Without a family or home or stable identity, she is turned loose in her community.
   • Rogers still isn't at full strength, and the team wants to make sure the problem is cleared up before turning him loose in practice.
   • When it got to this point in the game, this was the only time John could go out and turn everything loose.
   • After our many chores are done, Miss Windygale often turns us loose for a merry romp through the fields.
   • So I start by turning him loose in a pen he's never seen before.
   • He's the sort that writes your piece for you, whether you ask him questions and write down the answers or turn him loose on a laptop.
   • They also knew that there was no way that they would get their army if they were to just turn us loose and tell us to have children.
   • He will be turned loose to rush the quarterback more often against the Raiders.
   • Coach Lefty Driesell turns 'em loose and lets'em go, and they know what to do.
   • They gave me a lovely nametag and lanyard and then turned me loose in the gaming room.
   • Still it wasn't a disaster yet, but it would mean turning Theophilus loose on acquiring the oil.
   • By the time you are level, it seems that a model yacht has been turned loose on Sydney Harbour.
   • Richie said he was pulling so hard to the pole that he was afraid he'd run off if he turned him loose.
   • If the team takes Suggs, it will have to turn him loose to chase the quarterback to take full advantage of his skills.
2. 3.2with object Pass the age or time of.
   I've just turned forty

   Synonyms

   reach (the age of), get to (the age of), become, pass

   informal hit
3. 3.3no object (of leaves) change colour in the autumn.
   the chestnut leaves were turning

   Example sentencesExamples

   • There is a precious week here in the north, when the leaves have turned and have not yet been shredded by the wind, and this is it.
   • If I see plants with yellowing foliage I have to stop and ask myself why the leaves are turning.
   • With summer now a memory, and the leaves beginning to turn, its time to prepare to put your boat away for the winter.
   • Soon the leaves will turn and the ground will be ablaze with autumn's botanical fire.
   • We will even see leaves start to turn - they will have to, with nights as cool as those we've had.
   • Autumn was only just around the corner but the leaves weren't turning yet and the weather still felt like summer.
   • Go away from the city, sail the seas, and not a leaf would have turned by the time you are back.
   • Most pruning should be done after the leaves turn, indicating that the plant is dormant.
   • The leaves are turning, it is a beautiful scene.
   • No frost yet, so the leaves are not turning en masse; instead there has been a long succession of lovely sunny days and blue skies.
   • Give the tree a good top prune in early autumn, just as the leaves are starting to turn and before it gets cold.
   • The leaves are beautiful and turning, but if you are stupid and young you can still go out without a jacket.
   • It sounds utterly inappropriate as the leaves turn, night draws in and Wales floods.
   • Leaves are turning and are providing us with a beautiful last blast of colour before they fall and disintegrate into a sodden mush of brown.
   • I find joy, not in the material things, or not in achievements, but just the fact that I got to see the sun shine or the leaves are turning.
   • As fall comes, and the leaves turn and swirl in colorful whirlwinds, we eagerly look forward to it.
   • I thought about flying then decided that it would be a good thing to go on a road trip in the Mini in the early Autumn, when the leaves are starting to turn.
   • The weather cools down, the leaves turn, there are new shows on Broadway, sweaters and coats in the shops.
   • At Brangayne Vineyard, the leaves on the poplars are turning and there's a sharp edge of autumn in the air.
   • But when the air cools and the leaves turn, you yearn for something a bit more grown-up.
4. 3.4 (with reference to the stomach) make or become nauseated.
   with object the smell was bad enough to turn the strongest stomach

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I was more nervous than I'd expected and my stomach turned as we paused outside of King's Cross.
   • Just the thought had his stomach turning, and that had his anger boiling.
   • His mouth salivates while his stomach turns for him to fill it with the warm food.
   • But my stomach turns when I think about my sister marrying that guy.
   • My stomach turns at the notion, but the real gravity of the situation doesn't sink in until a few minutes later.
   • Their stomachs turn, but he just carries on looking at the river running between his dirty feet.
   • The movie is very bloody, featuring close-up shots of cannibalism which are likely to turn the strongest stomach.
   • On the one hand, appeasing awful governments turns many a stomach, including mine.
   • I feel sick, my stomach lurching and turning and doing a dance I didn't request.
   • This month's Home Office revelations must turn even the stoutest stomach.
   • The story which unfolded over the past few months at Nottingham Crown Court was enough to make the most sturdy of stomachs turn.
   • Your stomach will turn with anticipation on the drive over to SkyDive Toronto, located north of Barrie.
   • My body shakes at every joint, my empty stomach turns and nausea rushes over me in waves.
   • My stomach turns a little at the greasy aroma; caffeine and wholegrain is the only menu I'm interested in.
   • The sight of those five smug and arrogant oil corporation CEOs was enough to turn one's stomach.
   • It's not a pretty sight, and my stomach turns when I look at him.
   • It could be anyone, but still her stomach turns, and she's glad when the man comes and Jimmy folds the paper, tucks it away and out of sight.
   • My stomach has been turning at some of the coverage.
   • I'm up at seven o'clock on the day of the game and my stomach's turning.
   • The latest round of political maneuvering in Indonesia is enough to turn one's stomach.

   Synonyms

   nauseate, cause to feel sick, cause to feel nauseous, sicken, make sick, make someone's gorge rise, make someone's stomach rise

   informal make someone want to throw up
5. 3.5 (with reference to milk) make or become sour.
   Synonyms

   go/become sour, go off, sour, curdle, become rancid, go bad, spoil, taint

4turn tono object Start doing or becoming involved with.

1. 4.1 Go on to consider next.
   we can now turn to another aspect of the problem

   Example sentencesExamples

   • When the conversation turns to this problem, reference is often made to the state secrets act.
   • Before turning to the Grounds of Appeal, it is necessary to give some account of the arrest, detention and interviewing of the three appellants.
   • Let us now turn to other ways to gain information about the ancient Greek mathematicians.
   • We turn to consider how those principles should be applied in the present context.
   • Considering that it seems to be the standard form of attire here, the conversation quickly turns to the appeal of men in suits.
   • Finally, I turn to consider the practical consequences of giving the magistrates' court jurisdiction.
   • Before turning to the application, we summarise briefly the evidence as taken from the transcripts of the summing up and the witness statements.
   • With the jurisprudence in mind, I turn to the application of the factors to the case at hand.
   • With this information in hand, we now turn to several of the assertions in Isom's article.
   • In the next chapter, we turn to a philosophy that insists that mathematics is inherently informal.
   • When the Special Adjudicator sat at 10 a.m. he referred to the Applicant's appeal before turning to another case listed that day.
   • Later, of course, his Honour turns to consider this evidence which was right at the heart, far from being extraneous.
   • Attention will then turn to the application of the general rights of liberty and security of person.
   • With the above background information in place, let us now turn to logophoric pronouns in African languages.
   • In a flash, the minds of around thirty people turn to where their future drinks money will be coming from.
   • The 11 th chapter turns to research applications of flow cytometry.
   • But as soon as the discussion turns to application, the student would be lost.
   • I therefore turn to consider whether the law imposes any limitation upon the exercise of power under the section.
   • For further information we must therefore turn to an examination of the object itself.
   • I will now turn to the application of section 129, and the role of the Speaker.

   Synonyms

   move on to, go on to, begin to consider, turn one's attention to, attend to, address/apply oneself to

   pick up, take up, refer to
2. 4.2 Go to for help or information.
   who can she turn to?

   Example sentencesExamples

   • With the high rate at which formal employment is eluding many young people many are turning to the informal sector for a living.
   • The fact that Sprint is turning to IBM for its application development appears to be a key element of the pact.
   • We found it the most informative source we could turn to for a quick update.
   • The community turns to Florida Today as its source of information.
   • The women have no recourse if something goes wrong, no one to turn to for further advice.
   • Many are now turning to betting markets for better information.
   • Though most victims remain silent, even those who turn to police find no recourse.
   • Flash training is always an uphill battle but there are many sources of information that one can turn to.
   • Chang also noted that a number of top information technology players are turning to Linux as an operating system for mobile devices.
   • However, I ask him whether the cancer and his great age have made him consider turning to religion as a comfort.
   • It is clear senior aides also encouraged him to turn to a referendum in his search for legitimacy.
   • Biologists are turning to information technology to produce critically needed efficiencies in their work.
   • A small but growing group of Americans are turning to the Internet for objective information they can believe.
   • Who do you turn to for news and information about science and health issues?
   • Lacking the funds necessary to purchase this relief through formal markets, one turns to the informal sector.
   • It's not so much the BBC or foreign sources of information that people are turning to.
   • Some sites provide information which discourages patients from turning to conventional treatments for cancer.
   • In a desperate bid to save time and money, one consultant turned to voice recognition software.
   • Anyone in dire straits because of the floods should turn to the official appeal for help.
   • No disaster can hit the world, without audiences increasingly turning to those new producers of information.

   Synonyms

   seek help from, have recourse to, approach, apply to, look to, appeal to
3. 4.3 Have recourse to (something, especially something harmful)
   he turned to drink and drugs for solace

   Example sentencesExamples

   • As a result, the villagers turn to the bottle, drinking to forget how dreary their lives are.
   • Having said that, if I was denied a drink at the age of 20 I'd probably have turned to drink.
   • The court heard he had been a promising rugby player but had turned to drink and drugs when he was injured.
   • He subsequently turned to drink and drugs and speaks about his road to recovery.
   • In mitigation, the court heard he had turned to drink following a split with his wife.
   • Since then, he had been fired from two jobs, and in the face of rising pot prices, had turned to other, more harmful drugs.
   • The trauma leads some to turn to drink or drugs, as well as having difficulty forming lasting relationships themselves.
   • I turn to the other recourse for rancid times: the cultivation of my garden.
   • To relieve her anxieties, Wong, 26, turns to a collagen fortified drink and forces herself to eat more fruits.
   • In despair he turned to heroin, later kicking the habit through a method of his own devising.
   • When stressed, she doesn't turn to cigarettes or drink, or even beating the hell out of the soft furnishings.
   • The thought was that people with low self-esteem turn to drinking or drugs for solace.
   • Left on the streets all day and scorned would you not become depressed, paranoid, turn to drink or drugs or thieve for a living?
   • Tea or coffee are the two drinks most of us turn to first thing in the morning.
   • And, it becomes a service of sorts as in the absence of the drink people turn to the illicit killer ones.
   • It may also reduce the numbers who turn to a variety of unproved, and even harmful, alternative approaches.
   • People turn to drink, people lose their families, people lose their wife.
   • This is the reason so many journalists become cynical and grumpy, and more than a few turn to drink.
   • Boredom is also another reason for youngsters turning to drink.
   • As a comedian, I spend the days in sheer panic with my notebook, then at night I turn to drinking.

   Synonyms

   take to, resort to, have recourse to

5with object Shape (something) on a lathe.

1. 5.1 Give a graceful or elegant form to.
   if I could turn a tune, I even think I should sing

6with object Make (a profit).

1An act of moving something in a circular direction round an axis or point.

1. 1.1 A bend or curve in a road, path, river, etc.
   the twists and turns in the passageways

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Rogul led them through a maze of twists, turns, and secret passages.
   • When we entered the city, it was all lit up with bright lights and the roads had many twists and turns.
   • On a tight slalom course, we found it stable under power but a trifle squirrelly under hard braking into a turn.
   • I know the road well so I know exactly where night-time leaves its sharp twists, turns and blind bends.
   • Sabrina went through twists and turns of the secret passage way.
   • The road is filled with plenty of twists, turns and curves.
   • She imagined how charming it would be to meet a handsome young man around the turn of the path.
   • This path has taken many curves and turns and at every point when there is a crossroad, something propels me in the right direction.
   • She had memorized the twists and turns of the path she took now.
   • What's more certain is that when it comes to understanding knots, the road ahead almost certainly has more twists and turns.
   • With 73 turns and a rise and fall of 975 feet, almost every conceivable dynamic suspension condition is encountered each lap.
   • This new circuit will allow for the testing of braking system performance in snow and ice conditions on sharp corners and twisty turns.
   • Although it boasts the twists and turns of a single track road, it could have reached the same destination by motorway.
   • The distance is less than seven miles as the crow flies, but is 13 miles by water, because of the twists and turns of the river.
   • Parenting, in all of its stages, is a path with mythic twists and turns - a spiritual adventure of the highest order.
   • The image shows a straight road ahead with no turns flanged by cryptic road signs jutting out at strange angles.
   • Kenny kept leading them around twists and turns and crazy bends in the road before they finally pulled up to a beautiful three-story house.
   • Then, as they approached the left-hand turn, he tried to get ahead, clipping the Ferrari.
   • At 56 feet long the vehicle should have had a struggle to negotiate twists and turns - but the sharpest of bends was taken with ease.
   • That daunting task was made worse by plentiful leanings, curves, twists and turns.

   Synonyms

   bend, corner, dog-leg, twist, zigzag

   British hairpin bend
2. 1.2Cricket mass noun Deviation in the direction of the ball when bouncing off the pitch.
   the spinners have already begun to extract a lot of turn

   Example sentencesExamples

   • He played for turn, which is a dangerous assumption when Gilo is bowling.
   • The ball was turning today but it was mainly slow turn.
   • He ambles in gently, tosses the ball generously in the air, and extracts fair turn.
   • The wicket in Centurion didn't take much turn, and that helped us a lot.
   • It looks like Ozio doesn't have a lot of hand in the ball or as much turn as other people.
3. 1.3 One round in a coil of rope or other material.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • Once you have completed about ten turns of the whipping take a sharp razor knife and cut the remainder of the trapped line flush with the whipping.
   • The filament is helical, and has ~ 11 monomers for every two turns of the one-start helix.

   Synonyms

   loop, twist, curl, hoop, roll, ring, twirl, gyre, whorl, scroll, curlicue, convolution

2A change of direction when moving.

1. 2.1 A development or change in a situation.
   the latest turn of events

   life has taken a turn for the better

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It is a turn of events even the most inventive Hollywood screenwriter would be hard-pressed to make up.
   • In a surprising turn of events, it appears that he may do something right regarding immigration.
   • Ms Wilkins says until the unexpected turn of events she faced a grim Mother's Day.
   • In a surprising turn of events, today was warm and sunny.
   • Alarmed by the turn of events the governments behave like spurned lovers.
   • Events in the office continue to take a turn for the surreal.
   • This has to be one of the most bizarre turns of events I've seen in a very long time.
   • Industry observers say that the sudden turn of events in the industry has to be assimilated with a note of caution.
   • The case represents an unprecedented turn of events for Internet journalism.
   • He admitted things seemed to have taken a turn for the better in recent years.
   • The firm is apologetic, and clearly ashamed at the turn of events.
   • In a sudden turn of events, Malik's family refused to pay his defence lawyers.
   • This turn of events scares the hell out of me.
   • In a terrible turn of events, someone has spilled beer on the server.
   • Enemies become friends and friends become enemies during a surprising turn of events.
   • As the group's fantasies become more ambitious, events take a sinister turn.
   • However, events took an unexpected turn when Jordan kept her family waiting, arriving two hours late for the party.
   • Phrases lead to complex, surprising turns and developments.
   • But embracing their own intricate turns of temperament and giving up on feeling safe all the time is what gave Scott and Evan their music, and what gave us Lazersnake.
   • Soon, though, its songs take a turn towards William Blake and the Old Testament.

   Synonyms

   deteriorate, get/grow worse, worsen, decline, retrogress

   informal go downhill

   development, incident, occurrence, happening, circumstance, phenomenon
2. 2.2 A time when one period of time ends and another begins.
   the turn of the century

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It collapsed during a storm at the turn of the century.
   • They also stepped up on their weapons cache since the turn of the millennium.
   • After the turn of the 20th Century, the fast decline in the number of tigers was mainly due to poaching and hunting.
   • Schreker's opera not as a work from a turn of the century long ago, but as a paradigm with very contemporary relevance.
   • He will look to kick-start his season after just four victories since the turn of the year.
   • There was no way we would be able to feed all the billions of extra hungry mouths come the turn of the century…
   • The first element of the vision was radical at the turn of the millennium.
   • The guild was established at the turn of the last century.
   • However, around the turn of the 15th century, the practice began of having a small chorus sing polyphonically.
   • I often feel I am an anachronism, that I would be more at home at the turn of the century than today.
   • It's the turn of a new century and Dummies Theatre is in the mood for reflection, literally and figuratively.
   • They were still active in Central Otago after the turn of the century.
   • Having dropped just three points since the turn of the year, the Sandhill Lane club are now chasing down a top-five finish.
   • London's FTSE 100 index peaked at 6,900 at the turn of the millennium.
   • Barbershop singing originated in the US at the turn of the last century, when quartets would sing in real barbers' shops.
   • The sandstone buildings date back to the turn of the century when terraced houses first became popular in Glasgow.
   • By the turn of the century, Al-Jazeera broadcasts could be watched around the clock on all five continents.
   • By the turn of the century, smallpox had nearly eliminated the Haida people.
   • I have a theory that this maybe a turn of the century thing.
   • By the turn of the century, Buenos Aires was the largest city in Latin America, with a population of over one million.
3. 2.3 A place where a road meets or branches off another; a turning.
   they were approaching the turn

   Example sentencesExamples

   • After a short rest he started descending but quickly realised he'd taken the wrong turn.
   • I stuck to the Navigation Map which is easier to use than the north-facing map and also highlights your next turn at the top of the screen.
   • The new works have allowed an improved view of the approach to the turn and has widened the roadway at a crucial spot.
   • Whilst trying to get home yesterday we managed to miss the turn for the North Circular due to lack of clear signage.
   • In the other parts of the city, all through the dead ends and turns of the back alleys, Rocky knew his way like he had a map stored away in some garbage can.
   • Garry said they drove from Darwen town centre towards Ewood and for some reason Sean missed his turn into Branch Road.
   • Alex had been driving during the night while Max slept, but somehow he'd taken a wrong turn in the dark, a wrong turn that turned into several wrong turns.
   • Just as he approached the turn near the Talbooth restaurant, a black beast bigger than a dog but with the tail of a cat strayed across his path.
   • Her next turn was four miles up the street, a right into a business complex.
   • Running down the long corridors he took a wrong turn, crashing into a group of girls before he realised his mistake.

   Synonyms

   turning, junction, crossroads

   North American turnout
4. 2.4 A change of the tide from ebb to flow or vice versa.
   the turn of the tide

   Example sentencesExamples

   • However, the tide of the war takes a precipitous turn, forcing Riley and his commanders to take drastic measures.
   • But when they see the accuracy of the position, we will see the turn of the tide.
   • But the last two games have been pretty dire, and we are all fervently hoping that tomorrow we will see the turn of the tide!
   • They have to be hauled during the turn of the tide, when the water flow is at a minimum.
   • Nature speaks at the tide's turn, when all that drifts is gathered, going round again.
   • The opening has signalled a turn of the tide for unionism in Australia.
   • On the second day the action again tailed off much beyond the turn of the tide.
   • We had to wait until next day and the turn of the tide to conduct the first dive on our newest wreck.
   • This week marks the return of an old friend, who comes to us now at the turn of the tide.
5. 2.5the turn The beginning of the second nine holes of a round of golf.
   he made the turn in one under par

   Example sentencesExamples

   • She had four birdies on a bogey-free front side and led by four strokes at the turn.
   • Not wanting to be embarrassed, I shot a 47 on the front nine and really bore down after the turn.
   • I love the guy who orders two hamburgers, French fries and a soda at the turn.
   • The gap was still one hole at the turn, after a brace of deuces at the short ninth from Westwood and Haas.
   • Instead of a hot dog at the turn, eat an energy bar with a blend of protein, fats and carbohydrates.
   • The match was pretty tight on the front nine but I had a couple of really good holes around the turn and I pulled away.
   • It's a second bogey in three holes since the turn.
   • I had a match to play that afternoon as well and ran into Kassie at the clubhouse when she was making the turn.
   • The veteran Watson moves to two under as he approaches the turn.
   • Woods reached the turn having dropped six shots in nine holes.
   • By the time he approached the turn, he had dispensed with his trademark cap along with the aura of controlled authority he usually brings to a golf course.
   • Not too shabby, but at the turn is usually the point where I would run into trouble.

3An opportunity or obligation to do something that comes successively to each of a number of people.

1. 3.1 A short performance, especially one of a number given by different performers in succession.
   Lewis gave her best ever comic turn

   he was asked to do a turn at a children's party

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Polak is a powerful presence in the lead, displaying remarkable physical and emotional range, while Treasa Levasseur is a standout in both comic and tragic turns.
   • The bank employees do comic turns, so they don't appear threatening.
   • In the past few years, those of us who've made this argument have largely been proven true, due to a couple of very strong turns by the actor in Chicago and Unfaithful.
   • Michael J Fox does a good turn as the voice of Milo, and James Garner's Rourke is evil enough to be engaging.
   • I stare through the comic turns, the cardboard walls and doors, the creaky plots, the clunking dialogue.
   • There are some quietly assured turns from Paschal Scott as Mick Flanagan and Noel O'Donovan as Dandy.
   • It was engaging and unusual and loaded with actors taking new turns.
   • It was a very good cast, all in all, with great contributions from the male chorus, in hilarious turns as the rowdy serenading musicians and the police force.
   • But this being a variety show, a concept as outdated as the acts themselves, at least the turns were mercifully short.
   • Rather, we thrill to the juxtaposition of four amazing actors trading turns as the literary lovers in their prime and autumnal years.
   • The finale featured solo turns by some of Glover's student devotees, young and old, and a joyous shim-sham dance by the entire cast.
   • But he is bogged down by a terrible script - crammed with all that is clunky, cutesy and phoney - and surrounded by actors giving turns of pure ordure.
   • But 2004 conjured up several memorable turns, including the likes of Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa and Tom Cruise in Collateral.
   • As a child I used to love New Year's Eve because the holiday community to which we belonged built a bonfire, sang songs and did comic turns.
   • His comic turn failed to save him from nine months' hard labour.
   • Their caustic relationship alternates between comic turns and hair-raising go-for-blood verbal combat.
   • This will be followed by what used to be called a ‘medley’ of musical turns, a bit of pop, extracts from West End musicals and a bit of classical music.
   • Benicio Del Toro does a marvellous turn as a mentally debilitated Indian.
   • Stewart's like a young Jodie Foster, before that actress took a turn with Taxi Driver.

   Synonyms

   act, routine, performance, number, piece

   show
2. 3.2 A performer giving a short performance.
   Malton's comedy turn, Mark Poole, takes to the stage tonight in Cinderella

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Rush is always an entertaining turn and the role promises to license a hyperactive nastiness.
   • Then best known as one of the stars of The Comedians, Granada's popular showcase of northern comic turns, Reid was as surprised as anyone when he was asked to front the new series in 1975.
   • She simply agonises over how to describe what she does when a camera is pointed at her, saying that she feels more like a performer or a circus turn than an actress.
   • There's a fat guy in it who doesn't seem to be a comic turn nor a villain.
   • To many in Scotland, Smith is just a comic turn and it's often taken outsiders to recognise her ability to do more than just drop one-liners.
   • The news that the Queen Mother was in fact a comic turn grabbed the next day's headlines.
   • A cheeky Scouse chappie, Kenny Everett, was making a bit of a name for himself too, but he seemed more of a comic turn than a jock.

4A short walk or ride.

5informal A shock.

1. 5.1 A brief feeling or experience of illness.
   he has these funny turns

   Example sentencesExamples

   • But Auntie has been having a lot of funny turns lately.
   • Harry thought I was having another one of my funny turns.
   • Suddenly decided to recheck my maths and realised I must have had a funny turn.
   • At one point, Currie found himself up by the patient's head, which gave him a bit of a funny turn.
   • In our study 25% of patients with funny turns had features on EEG that could be misinterpreted.
   • But she then started to experience funny turns and we cancelled the holiday.
   • If one of them could take a funny turn just before the race, that would be perfect.
   • I can have a drink with those sort of reactionaries whereas fascists bring on one of my funny turns.

6The difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products.

1. 6.1 A profit made from the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products.

7Music
A melodic ornament consisting of the principal note with those above and below it.