2 VERB 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. □ [V n prep/adv] They turned their telescopes towards other nearby galaxies. □ [V n to-inf] She had turned the bedside chair to face the door. □ [V -ed] The lid, turned upside down, served as a coffee table.
3 VERB When something such as a wheel turns , or when you turn it, it continually moves around in a particular direction. □ [V ] As the wheel turned, the potter shaped the clay. □ [V n] The engine turned a propeller.
4 VERB 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. □ [V n] Turn a special key, press the brake pedal, and your car's brakes lock. □ [V n prep/adv] Turn the heat to very low and cook for 20 minutes. □ [V ] I tried the doorknob and it turned.
5 VERB When you turn in a particular direction or turn a corner, you change the direction in which you are moving or travelling. □ [V prep/adv] Now turn right to follow West Ferry Road. □ [V n] The man with the umbrella turned the corner again. ● N‑COUNT Turn is also a noun. □ You can't do a right-hand turn here.
6 VERB The point where a road, path, or river turns , is the point where it has a bend or curve in it. □ [V prep/adv] …the corner where Tenterfield Road turned into the main road. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Turn is also a noun. □ [+ in ] …a sharp turn in the road.
7 VERB When the tide turns , it starts coming in or going out. □ [V ] There was not much time before the tide turned.
8 VERB When you turn a page of a book or magazine, you move it so that is flat against the previous page, and you can read the next page. □ [V n] He turned the pages of a file in front of him.
9 VERB If you turn a weapon or an aggressive feeling on someone, you point it at them or direct it at them. □ [V n + on ] He tried to turn the gun on me. □ [V n + on ] The crowd than turned their anger on the Prime Minister.
10 VERB If you turn to a particular page in a book or magazine, you open it at that page. □ [V + to ] To order, turn to page 236.
11 VERB 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. □ [V n + to ] We turned our attention to the practical matters relating to forming a company. □ [V + to ] We turn now to the British news.
12 VERB If you turn to someone, you ask for their help or advice. □ [V + to ] For assistance, they turned to one of the city's most innovative museums.
13 VERB If you turn to a particular activity, job, or way of doing something, you start doing or using it. □ [V + to/from ] These communities are now turning to recycling in large numbers.
14 VERB To turn or be turned into something means to become that thing. □ [V + into/to ] A prince turns into a frog in this cartoon fairytale. □ [V n + into ] …an ambitious programme to turn the country into a functioning democracy. [Also V n + to ]
15 V‑LINK You can use turn before an adjective to indicate that something or someone changes by acquiring the quality described by the adjective. □ [V adj] If the bailiff thinks that things could turn nasty, he will enlist the help of the police.
16 V‑LINK If something turns a particular colour or if something turns it a particular colour, it becomes that colour. □ [V colour] The sea would turn pale pink and the sky blood red. □ [V n colour] Her contact lenses turned her eyes green.
17 V‑LINK 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. □ [V adj] If it turns cold, cover plants.
18 N‑COUNT If a situation or trend takes a particular kind of turn , it changes so that it starts developing in a different or opposite way. □ The scandal took a new turn over the weekend. [Also + in ]
19 VERB [no passive] If a business turns a profit, it earns more money than it spends. [AM , BUSINESS ] □ [V n] The firm will be able to service debt and still turn a modest profit. in BRIT, use make , return 20 VERB When someone turns a particular age, they pass that age. When it turns a particular time, it passes that time. □ [V n] It was his ambition to accumulate a million dollars before he turned thirty.
21 N‑SING 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. □ [+ of ] They fled to South America around the turn of the century.
22 VERB When someone turns a wooden or metal object that they are making, they shape it using a special tool. □ [V n] …the joys of making a living from turning wood.