2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Something that is a turn-off causes you to lose interest or sexual excitement. [INFORMAL ]
tu rn-on (turn-ons ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] Something or someone that is a turn-on is sexually exciting. [INFORMAL ]
turn|out /tɜː r naʊt/ (turnouts ) also turn-out
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The turnout at an event is the number of people who go to it or take part in it. □ On the big night there was a massive turnout.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The turnout in an election is the number of people who vote in it, as a proportion of the number of people who have the right to vote in it. □ [+ of ] Election officials said the turnout of voters was low. □ A high turnout was reported at the polling booths.
turn|over /tɜː r noʊvə r / (turnovers )
1 N‑VAR The turnover of a company is the value of the goods or services sold during a particular period of time. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ of ] The company had a turnover of £3.8 million.
2 N‑VAR The turnover of people in an organization or place is the rate at which people leave and are replaced. [BUSINESS ] □ Short-term contracts increase staff turnover. [Also + of ]
turn|pike /tɜː r npa I k/ (turnpikes ) N‑COUNT A turnpike is a road, especially an expressway, which people have to pay to drive on. [mainly AM ]
turn|round /tɜː r nraʊnd/ N‑SING A turnround is the same as a turnaround .
tu rn sig|nal (turn signals ) N‑COUNT A car's turn signals are the flashing lights that tell you it is going to turn left or right. [AM ] in BRIT, use indicators
turn|stile /tɜː r nsta I l/ (turnstiles ) N‑COUNT A turnstile is a mechanical barrier at the entrance to a place such as a museum or a football ground. Turnstiles have metal arms that you push round as you go through them and enter the building or area.
turn|table /tɜː r nte I b ə l/ (turntables ) N‑COUNT A turntable is the flat, round part of a record player on which a record is put when it is played.
tu rn-up (turn-ups ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The turn-ups on a pair of trousers are the parts which are folded over at the ends of the legs. [BRIT ] in AM, use cuffs
tur|pen|tine /tɜː r pənta I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Turpentine is a colourless liquid used, for example, for cleaning paint off brushes.
tur|pi|tude /tɜː r p I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ N‑UNCOUNT Turpitude is very immoral behaviour. [FORMAL ]
tur|quoise /tɜː r kwɔ I z/ (turquoises ) COLOUR Turquoise or turquoise blue is used to describe things that are of a light greenish-blue colour. □ …a clear turquoise sea.
tur|ret /tʌ r I t, [AM ] tɜː r-/ (turrets )
1 N‑COUNT A turret is a small narrow tower on top of a building or a larger tower.
2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The turret on a tank or warship is the part where the guns are fixed, which can be turned in any direction.
tur|tle /tɜː r t ə l/ (turtles )
1 N‑COUNT A turtle is a large reptile which has a thick shell covering its body and which lives in the sea most of the time. [BRIT ] in AM, use sea turtle 2 N‑COUNT A turtle is any reptile that has a thick shell around its body, for example a tortoise or terrapin. [AM ]
turtle|neck /tɜː r t ə lnek/ (turtlenecks )
1 N‑COUNT A turtleneck or turtleneck sweater is a sweater with a short round collar that fits closely around your neck. [BRIT ] in AM, use mock turtleneck 2 N‑COUNT A turtleneck or turtleneck sweater is a sweater with a high neck which folds over. [AM ] in BRIT, use polo neck
tusk /tʌ sk/ (tusks ) N‑COUNT The tusks of an elephant, wild boar, or walrus are its two very long, curved, pointed teeth.
tus|sle /tʌ s ə l/ (tussles , tussling , tussled )
1 VERB If one person tussles with another, or if they tussle , they get hold of each other and struggle or fight. □ [V + with ] They ended up ripping down perimeter fencing and tussling with the security staff. □ [V + over ] He grabbed my microphone and we tussled over that. □ [V ] James and Elliott tussled. ● N‑COUNT Tussle is also a noun. □ [+ with ] The referee booked him for a tussle with the goalie.
2 VERB If one person tussles with another for something, or if they tussle for it, they try to beat each other in order to get it. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V with ] The two athletes tussled with each other for fourth place. □ [V + for/over ] Officials tussled over who had responsibility for the newly fashionable unemployment agenda. ● N‑COUNT Tussle is also a noun. □ [+ over ] …a legal tussle over who gets custody of the children.
3 VERB If someone tussles with a difficult problem or issue, they try hard to solve it. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V + with ] He is tussling with the problem of what to do about inflation.
tus|sock /tʌ sək/ (tussocks ) N‑COUNT A tussock is a small piece of grass which is much longer and thicker than the grass around it.
tut /tʌ t/ (tuts , tutting , tutted )
1 Tut is used in writing to represent the sound that you make with your tongue touching the top of your mouth when you want to indicate disapproval, annoyance, or sympathy.
2 VERB If you tut , you make a sound with your tongue touching the top of your mouth when you want to indicate disapproval, annoyance, or sympathy. □ [V ] He tutted and shook his head.