1. The act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
   "The sharp turning of the vehicle surprised pedestrians";
   - turn
    
2. A movement in a new direction
   "the turning of the wind";
   - turn
    
3. Act of changing in practice or custom
   "the law took many turnings over the years"
    
4. The activity of shaping something on a lathe
   "The woodworker's turning produced elegant table legs"
    
5. A shaving created when something is produced by turning it on a lathe
   "The woodworker's floor was covered in turnings from the day's work"
    
6. The end-product created by shaping something on a lathe
   "The artisan displayed his latest turnings at the gallery"
    
7. A side road where you can turn off
   "I missed the turning and went 15 miles out of my way";
   - turnoff, turn-off

1. To change orientation or direction
   "Turn towards me"; "The mugger turned and fled before I could see his face"
    
2. Cause to move around or rotate
   "turn a key"; "turn your palm this way"
    
3. Undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
   "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election";
   - change state
    
4. Undergo a change or development
   "The water turned into ice"; "He turned traitor";
   - become
    
5. Change to the contrary
   "the tides turned against him"; "public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern";
   - reverse
    
6. Move around an axis or a centre
   "The wheels are turning"
    
7. Cause to move around a centre so as to show another side of
   "turn a page of a book";
   - turn over
    
8. Pass to the other side of
   "turn the corner";
   - move around
    
9. Pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
   "The weather turned nasty";
   - grow
    
10. Cause to move along an axis or into a new direction
    "turn your dance partner around"; "turn your face to the wall"; "turn the car around"
     
11. Channel one's attention, interest or thought toward or away from something
    "The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction"; "people turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium"
     
12. Alter the functioning or setting of
    "turn the dial to 10"; "turn the heat down"
     
13. Direct at someone
    "She turned a smile on me"; "They turned their flashlights on the car"
     
14. (farming) to break and turn over earth especially with a plough
    "turn the earth in the spring";
    - plow [N. Amer], plough [Brit, Cdn]
     
15. Shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel
    "turn the legs of the table"; "turn the clay on the wheel"
     
16. Accomplish by rotating
    "turn a somersault"; "turn cartwheels"
     
17. Change colour
    "In Vermont, the leaves turn early"
     
18. Cause to change into something different; assume new characteristics
    "The princess turned the frog into a prince by kissing him"; "The alchemists tried to turn lead into gold"
     
19. Get by buying and selling
    "the company turned a good profit after a year"
     
20. Cause (an object) to assume a crooked or angular form
    "the strong man could turn an iron bar";
    - flex, bend, deform, twist
     
21. Have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to
    "She turned to her relatives for help";
    - call on
     
22. Twist suddenly so as to sprain
    "I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days";
    - twist, sprain, wrench, wrick, rick
     
23. Let (something) fall or spill from a container
    "turn the flour onto a plate";
    - release
     
24. To send or let go
    "They turned away the crowd at the gate of the governor's mansion"
     
25. Go sour or spoil
    "The cream has turned — we have to throw it out";
    - sour, ferment, work
     
26. Become officially one year older
    "She is turning 50 this year"

Derived forms: turnings

See also: double back, pick up, put off, turn away, turn to

Type of: acquire, age, aim, alter, appeal, change, change form, change of course, change shape, channel, channelise [Brit], channelize, color [US], colour [Brit, Cdn], control, deform, direct, discolor [US], discolour [Brit, Cdn], displace, do, end product, form, formation, get, get on, go, injure, invoke, locomote, maturate, mature, metamorphose, modify, motion, move, movement, operate, output, paring, perform, road, route, send, senesce, shape, shaping, shaving, sliver, take, take aim, till, train, transfer, transform, transmit, transmute, travel, wound

Encyclopedia: Turning