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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To turn round

Turn \Turn\, v. i.

  1. To move round; to have a circular motion; to revolve entirely, repeatedly, or partially; to change position, so as to face differently; to whirl or wheel round; as, a wheel turns on its axis; a spindle turns on a pivot; a man turns on his heel.

    The gate . . . on golden hinges turning.
    --Milton.

  2. Hence, to revolve as if upon a point of support; to hinge; to depend; as, the decision turns on a single fact.

    Conditions of peace certainly turn upon events of war.
    --Swift.

  3. To result or terminate; to come about; to eventuate; to issue.

    If we repent seriously, submit contentedly, and serve him faithfully, afflictions shall turn to our advantage.
    --Wake.

  4. To be deflected; to take a different direction or tendency; to be directed otherwise; to be differently applied; to be transferred; as, to turn from the road. Turn from thy fierce wrath. --Ex. xxxii. 12. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways. --Ezek. xxxiii. 1

    1. The understanding turns inward on itself, and reflects on its own operations.
      --Locke.

  5. To be changed, altered, or transformed; to become transmuted; also, to become by a change or changes; to grow; as, wood turns to stone; water turns to ice; one color turns to another; to turn Mohammedan.

    I hope you have no intent to turn husband.
    --Shak.

    Cygnets from gray turn white.
    --Bacon.

  6. To undergo the process of turning on a lathe; as, ivory turns well.

  7. Specifically:

    1. To become acid; to sour; -- said of milk, ale, etc.

    2. To become giddy; -- said of the head or brain.

      I'll look no more; Lest my brain turn.
      --Shak.

    3. To be nauseated; -- said of the stomach.

    4. To become inclined in the other direction; -- said of scales.

    5. To change from ebb to flow, or from flow to ebb; -- said of the tide.

    6. (Obstetrics) To bring down the feet of a child in the womb, in order to facilitate delivery.

  8. (Print.) To invert a type of the same thickness, as temporary substitute for any sort which is exhausted. To turn about, to face to another quarter; to turn around. To turn again, to come back after going; to return. --Shak. To turn against, to become unfriendly or hostile to. To turn aside or To turn away.

    1. To turn from the direct course; to withdraw from a company; to deviate.

    2. To depart; to remove.

    3. To avert one's face. To turn back, to turn so as to go in an opposite direction; to retrace one's steps. To turn in.

      1. To bend inward.

      2. To enter for lodgings or entertainment.

      3. To go to bed. [Colloq.] To turn into, to enter by making a turn; as, to turn into a side street. To turn off, to be diverted; to deviate from a course; as, the road turns off to the left. To turn on or To turn upon.

        1. To turn against; to confront in hostility or anger.

        2. To reply to or retort.

        3. To depend on; as, the result turns on one condition. To turn out.

          1. To move from its place, as a bone.

          2. To bend or point outward; as, his toes turn out.

          3. To rise from bed. [Colloq.]

    4. To come abroad; to appear; as, not many turned out to the fire.

    5. To prove in the result; to issue; to result; as, the crops turned out poorly. To turn over, to turn from side to side; to roll; to tumble. To turn round.

      1. To change position so as to face in another direction.

      2. To change one's opinion; to change from one view or party to another. To turn to, to apply one's self to; have recourse to; to refer to. ``Helvicus's tables may be turned to on all occasions.'' --Locke. To turn to account, profit, advantage, or the like, to be made profitable or advantageous; to become worth the while. To turn under, to bend, or be folded, downward or under. To turn up.

        1. To bend, or be doubled, upward.

        2. To appear; to come to light; to transpire; to occur; to happen.

Usage examples of "to turn round".

Before the soldiers in front had time even to turn round, the two long pieces were placed upright in the grooves down which the portcullis would fall, while the two wedge-shaped pieces were thrust into the jamb of the gate so as to prevent it from closing.

An unsuspected talent which has long lain dormant needs, when waked, a second or so to turn round in.

I looked back over the turnstile and she was there waving goodbye to me with tears running down her face, and I waved back to her, and then I had to turn round and go down to the train.

As I came, a zaphilote alighted on the head of the body that hung nearest to me, and its weight, or the wafting of the fowl's wing, caused the dead man to turn round so that he came face to face with me.

Whenever he raised his eyes from his own display panel and controls, he could look over Captain Colbys shoulder, and when Colby happened to turn round in his combat chair, Talavera could see the captains face.

This encouraged me to turn round, which I did as soon as I had finished addressing the last envelope.

There is nothing to be done but to turn round, and hoe back to the other end.

Seeing that the tide was running too forcibly against him to be resisted, Somerset deemed it prudent to turn round, but he did so with an ill grace.

I feel as though I were made to turn round and round, or against my will impelled to go forwards, or backwards, or to one side.

For, when swimming before his exulting pursuers, with every apparent symptom of alarm, he had several times been known to turn round suddenly, and, bearing down upon them, either stave their boats to splinters, or drive them back in consternation to their ship.

For, when swimming before his exulting pursuers,with every apparent symptom of alarm, he had several times been known to turn round suddenly, and, bearing down upon them, either stave their boats to splinters, or drive them back in consternation to their ship.

Suddenly, Fantine raised her eyes, saw him, and caused Monsieur Madeleine to turn round.

The first thing he did was to turn round in the cage in which he lay, and protrude his claws, and stretch himself thoroughly.