Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To cause to move around an axis or center; cause to rotate or revolve.
- intransitive verb To cause to move around in order to achieve a result, such as opening, closing, tightening, or loosening.
- intransitive verb To alter or control the functioning of (a mechanical device, for example) by the use of a rotating or similar movement.
- intransitive verb To perform or accomplish by rotating or revolving.
- intransitive verb To change the position of so that the underside becomes the upper side.
- intransitive verb To spade or plow (soil) to bring the undersoil to the surface.
- intransitive verb To reverse and resew the material of (a collar, for example).
- intransitive verb To revolve in the mind; meditate on; ponder.
- intransitive verb To give a rounded form to (wood, for example) by rotating against a cutting tool.
- intransitive verb To give a rounded shape to (clay, for example) by rotating and shaping with the hands or tools.
- intransitive verb To give a rounded form to.
- intransitive verb To give distinctive, artistic, or graceful form to.
- intransitive verb To change the position of by traversing an arc of a circle; pivot.
- intransitive verb To present in a specified direction by rotating or pivoting.
- intransitive verb To cause (a scale) to move up or down so as to register weight.
- intransitive verb To fold, bend, or twist (something).
- intransitive verb To change the position or disposition of by folding, bending, or twisting.
- intransitive verb To make a bend or curve in.
- intransitive verb To blunt or dull (the edge of a cutting instrument).
- intransitive verb To injure by twisting.
- intransitive verb To upset or make nauseated.
- intransitive verb To change the direction or course of.
- intransitive verb To divert or deflect.
- intransitive verb To reverse the course of; cause to retreat.
- intransitive verb To make a course around or about.
- intransitive verb To reach and pass (a specified age).
- intransitive verb To change the purpose, intention, or content of by persuasion or influence.
- intransitive verb To change the order or disposition of; unsettle.
- intransitive verb To aim or focus.
- intransitive verb To devote or apply (oneself, for example) to something.
- intransitive verb To cause to act or go against; make antagonistic.
- intransitive verb To cause to go in a specific direction; direct.
- intransitive verb To send, drive, or let go.
- intransitive verb To pour, let fall, or otherwise release (contents) from or into a receptacle.
- intransitive verb To cause to take on a specified character, nature, identity, or appearance; change or transform. Used with to or into.
- intransitive verb To affect or change the color of.
- intransitive verb To make sour; ferment.
- intransitive verb To exchange; convert. Used with to or into.
- intransitive verb To keep in circulation; sell and restock.
- intransitive verb To make use of.
- intransitive verb To get by buying and selling.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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When I turn on the coffee machine in the morning it is intentional under the description of ˜turn on the coffee machine™ that's what I intend to do.
Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret Anscombe Driver, Julia 2009
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To turn in another direction; to _turn thoroughly_ from a former course.
Orthography As Outlined in the State Course of Study for Illinois Elmer W. Cavins
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"_Let us_ turn to survey," &c.; the verbs, _be enacted, be blessed, turn_, &c. according to an idiom of our language, or the poet's license, are used in the _imperative_, agreeing with a nominative of the first or third person.
English Grammar in Familiar Lectures Samuel Kirkham
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"My soul, turn from them: -- _turn we_ to survey," &c.
English Grammar in Familiar Lectures Samuel Kirkham
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_Tea and turn out_ you could not call it; for there was the _turn out_ in rigor, but not the _tea_.
Narrative and Miscellaneous Papers Thomas De Quincey 1822
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_Tea and turn out_ you could not call it; for there was the _turn out_ in rigor, but not the _tea_.
Narrative and Miscellaneous Papers — Volume 1 Thomas De Quincey 1822
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It was ever the invariable practice of the turnkeys, from which they never deviated before that night, when coming into the yard to shut up, to halloo to the prisoners, so loud as to be heard throughout the yard, "_turn in, turn in!
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He told his father himself that he had _no turn to economy_, but a thief might as well plead that he had no _turn to honesty_! "'
Life of Johnson, Volume 3 1776-1780 James Boswell 1767
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SaiFron as being beaten, fmall wUl turn it to a £«e« mon Colour, is a very good Bait. lathe Winter Months the CJWj is aecouiited beft, it being oh - ftrved that the forked Bones are then loft or turn* ed into* a.Kind. of Ga: i {] tlevcfpeclally if he be baked ..
The Art of Angling 1781
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This enzyme transcribes the information coded by genes from DNA into messenger-RNA (mRNA), which in turn is the basis for the production of proteins.
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Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table (the ‘flop’), then another card (the ‘turn’) and a final one (the ‘river’); there is a round of betting at each stage.
Paul Myerscough · Diary: Confessions of a Poker Player · LRB 29 January 2009 Paul Myerscough 2019
uselessness commented on the word turn
To spoil, as in meat. "I slaughtered this horse last Tuesday. I'm 'fraid she's startin' to turn."
July 25, 2007
tbtabby commented on the word turn
In spy lingo, to cause an agent to become a double agent.
August 26, 2009
ruzuzu commented on the word turn
"46. To hang, as a criminal; hence, with humorous allusion to the “noose,” to put through the marriage ceremony; marry."
--Century Dictionary
December 24, 2010