turn

The word "turn" is very flexible. At its most basic, it describes movement around a point or into a new position. You turn a key, turn a handle, turn your body, or turn the wheel of a car. It can also describe something moving by itself: a wheel turns, the Earth turns on its axis, and a person turns around to look behind them.

Just as often, "turn" means changing direction. A driver may turn left at a light, a road may have a dangerous turn, and a river may turn near a hill. From there, the word naturally grows into the idea of change more generally. The weather can turn cold, milk can turn sour, a calm talk can turn serious, and a bad situation can turn better. We also use it when speaking about results: things may turn out well, badly, or differently than expected.

"Turn" is also the usual word for a person's chance in order. In a game, each player waits for a turn. In daily life, it can mean a time when someone should act or speak: "It's your turn now." It can also describe a stage in events or a new development, as in "The story took a strange turn."

Another common use appears in phrasal verbs and set expressions. We turn on a light, turn off the radio, turn up the volume, turn down an offer, turn over a page, and turn to someone for help. Because of this wide range, the word often carries the simple idea of movement, change, or shifting from one state, direction, or person to another.

So whether it is about rotating something, changing course, becoming different, using a machine, or waiting for a chance to act, "turn" is a basic English word for movement and change in both literal and everyday situations.