turn · v
turn (GO AROUND)
B2 to move around a central point in a circle, or to make something do this
Dictionary examples:
The wheels started to turn (around). (19.0)
The Earth turns on its axis once every 24 hours. (50.0)
She turned the door knob and quietly opened the door. (50.1)
Turn the steering wheel as quickly as you can. (55.0)
turn blue/cold/nasty, etc.
B2 to become blue, cold, nasty, etc.
Dictionary examples:
The sky turned black and it started to rain. (15.6)
When I refused to pay, he turned nasty. (24.7)
The weather has suddenly turned cold. (27.7)
She turned pale and started to shiver. (34.2)
turn 16/21/57, etc.
C1 to become a particular age
Dictionary examples:
He turned 18 last May. (9.4)
turn your back on sb/sth
C2 to decide to stop having contact with someone or something, or to refuse to help someone
Dictionary examples:
She turned her back on Hollywood and went to live in Florida. (18.1)
turn over a new leaf
C2 to start to behave in a better way
Dictionary examples:
I turned over a new leaf and began getting to work on time. (33.4)
turn your nose up at sth
C2 to not accept something because you do not think it is good enough for you
Dictionary examples:
She turned up her nose at the job because she didn’t think it had enough status. (51.9)
toss and turn
C2 be unable to sleep properly
Dictionary examples:
I was tossing and turning for most of the night. (48.0)
turn (CHANGE DIRECTION)
A2 to change the direction in which you are moving, or to make a car do this
Dictionary examples:
The robot turned and bumped into every wall. (0.0)
The clown's car turned and sprayed water everywhere. (0.0)
The flying pizza turned and landed on his head. (0.0)
I turned the car into the drive. (24.1)
Turn left at the traffic lights. (26.2)
turn (MOVE YOUR BODY)
B1 to move your body so that you are facing a different direction
Dictionary examples:
He turned to run from the bee, but tripped over his own feet! (0.0)
The clumsy dancer turned so fast, he became a human tornado! (0.0)
He turned to kiss his date but kissed a mannequin by mistake! (0.0)
She put out the light, turned over and went to sleep. (28.0)
Ricky turned and saw Sue standing in the doorway. (42.8)
turn (PAGE)
B1 to move a page in a book or magazine in order to see the next one
Dictionary examples:
He turned the page and discovered his sandwich was the bookmark. (0.0)
She turned the page and found her homework already done by elves. (0.0)
The boy turned the page so excitedly, it flew out the window. (0.0)
He turned over two or three pages. (16.1)
Now turn to page 23 and look at the first paragraph. (22.6)
Now turn the page, please, and start Exercise 2. (31.4)
turn (CHANGE POSITION)
B1 to move something around so that it faces a different direction
Dictionary examples:
The student turned his test paper to cover his answers from his classmate. (0.0)
He turned the 'Open' sign to 'Closed' and ran to catch the bus. (0.0)
The chef turned the burnt side of the toast away from the customer. (0.0)
Ella turned the cup to hide the crack in it. (45.7)