turn

Turn is a versatile term in the English language, functioning as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it primarily means to cause to rotate about an axis or to change direction or orientation. It can also describe bending, twisting, or rotating something, or changing state, as in turning a page, turning a screw, or the weather turning cold.

As a noun, turn refers to the act of turning or to a change in direction, such as a bend in a road or a corner. It can also denote a position in a sequence of actions or events—someone’s turn to act or speak. In games and daily life, people take turns, meaning each participant has a designated opportunity.

Specialized uses include turning in manufacturing, where turning is the process of shaping a workpiece on a lathe by removing material; in this sense a turned piece has a cylindrical or curved surface. In geometry, a turn is a complete rotation, often measured in degrees; one full turn equals 360 degrees, and fractions such as a quarter-turn denote 90 degrees.

In addition, the term appears in phrases about change and decision, such as a turn for the better or turn of events, where it conveys a shift in circumstances.