Word: turn Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Partly from Anglo-Norman *torn, from Latin tornus, from Ancient Greek τόρνος (tórnos), and partly an action noun from the verb turn. Pronunciation: /tɜːn/, /tɔːn/, /tɜɹn/ 1. A change of direction or orientation. Example: Give the handle a turn, then pull it. Example: With just the turn of a shoulder she indicated the water front, where[…]lay the good ship, Mount Vernon, river packet, the black smoke already pouring from her stacks. In turn he smiled and also shrugged a shoulder. 2. A movement of an object about its own axis in one direction that continues until the object returns to its initial orientation. 3. A movement of an object about its own axis in one direction that continues until the object returns to its initial orientation. 4. A walk to and fro. Example: Let's take a turn in the garden. Example: "I've made a turn round the place, sir, and the light was on," was the reply. 5. A chance to use something shared in sequence with others. Example: They took turns playing with the new toy. Example: With just the turn of a shoulder she indicated the water front, where[…]lay the good ship, Mount Vernon, river packet, the black smoke already pouring from her stacks. In turn he smiled and also shrugged a shoulder. 6. A spell of work, especially the time allotted to a person in a rota or schedule. Example: I cooked tonight, so it's your turn to do the dishes. 7. One's chance to make a move in a game having two or more players. 8. A figure in music, often denoted ~, consisting of the note above the one indicated, the note itself, the note below the one indicated, and the note itself again. 9. The time required to complete a project. Example: They quote a three-day turn on parts like those. 10. The transition from one period or era, or hour on the clock, to another. Example: turn of the century Example: […] by cajolery and innuendo she had persuaded him to go to the picture palace to be cheered up, and as it was now on the turn of eleven he might be expected back at any moment. 11. A fit or a period of giddiness. Example: I've had a funny turn. Example: I'm sure I never shall forget the turn young Simmons gave me when he came in with that paper as he'd been and copied out of a winder thro' being in a west-end house, […] 12. A change in temperament or circumstance. Example: She took a turn for the worse. 13. A sideways movement of the ball when it bounces (caused by rotation in flight). 14. The fourth communal card in Texas hold 'em. 15. The flop (the first three community cards) in Texas hold 'em. Labels: obsolete 16. A deed done to another; an act of kindness or malice. Example: One good turn deserves another. Example: I felt that the man was of a vindictive nature, and would do me an evil turn if he found the opportunity[…]. 17. A single loop of a coil. 18. A pass behind or through an object. 19. Character; personality; nature. Example: It was fortunate for his comfort, perhaps, that the man who had been chosen to accompany him was of a talkative turn, for the prisoners insisted upon hearing the story of the explosion a dozen times over, and Rufus Dawes himself had been roused to give the name of the vessel with his own lips. 20. An instance of going past an opposition player with the ball in one's control. 21. A short skit, act, or routine. Labels: especially, physical Example: Between the pieces were individual turns, comic songs and dances. 22. A type turned upside down to serve for another character that is not available. Labels: dated 23. The profit made by a stockjobber, being the difference between the buying and selling prices. Labels: UK, historical Example: There are usually at least two jobbers who specialise in the leading stocks, and this acts to keep the jobber's turn to a reasonable amount […]