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Thesaurus: turn


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competent
Definition: (adjective) having the skill and knowledge needed for a particular task; capable
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turn

verb
  1. To move or cause to move in circles or around an axis: circle, circumvolve, gyrate, orbit, revolve, rotate, wheel. See move, repetition
  2. To spade or dig (soil) to bring the undersoil to the surface: plow, turn over. See move
  3. To make or become less sharp-edged: blunt, dull. Idiom: take the edge off. See sharp
  4. To twist and turn, as in pain, struggle, or embarrassment: agonize, squirm, toss, writhe. See repetition
  5. To injure a (bodily part) by twisting: sprain, wrench. See health
  6. To disturb the health or physiological functioning of: derange, disorder, unsettle, upset. See health
  7. To change the direction or course of: avert, deflect, deviate, divert, pivot, shift, swing, veer. See change
  8. To cause to move, especially at an angle: angle 2, bend, deflect, refract. See straight
  9. To swerve from a straight line: angle 2, arc, arch, bend, bow 2, crook, curve, round. See straight
  10. To change to the opposite position, direction, or course. About, around, over, or round: invert, reverse, transpose. See change
  11. To make or become different: alter, change, modify, mutate, vary. See change
  12. To abandon one's cause or party usually to join another: apostatize, defect, desert 3, renegade, tergiversate. Slang: rat. Idioms: change sides, turn one's coat. See approach, trust
  13. To move (a weapon or blow, for example) in the direction of someone or something: aim, cast, direct, head, level, point, set 1, train, zero in. Military: lay 1. See seek
  14. To devote (oneself or one's efforts): address, apply, bend, buckle down, concentrate, dedicate, devote, direct, focus, give. See collect, work
  15. To become or cause to become rotten or unsound: break down, decay, decompose, deteriorate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, rot, spoil, taint. Idioms: go bad, go to pot, go to seed. See better, thrive
  16. To look to when in need: apply, go, refer, repair 2, resort, run. Idioms: fall back on (or upon), have recourse to. See used
  17. To come to be. Also used with out: become, come, get, grow, wax. See change
phrasal verb

turn down
  1. To be unwilling to accept, consider, or receive: decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, spurn. Slang: nix. Idiom: turn thumbs down on. See accept
  2. To be unwilling to grant: deny, disallow, refuse, withhold. See accept
  3. To prevent or forbid authoritatively: blackball, negative, veto. Slang: nix. Idiom: turn thumbs down on. See accept
phrasal verb

turn in
  1. To commit to the consideration or judgment of another: submit. See give
  2. Informal. To go to bed: bed (down), retire. Slang: crash, flop. Idioms: call it a night, hit the hay (or sack). See awareness
phrasal verb

turn off
Slang. To be very disagreeable to: displease, offend. Idioms: give offense to, not set right (or well) with. See like, pain
phrasal verb

turn on
  1. To be determined by or contingent on something unknown, uncertain, or changeable: depend on or upon , hang on, hang upon, hinge on or upon , rest on or upon , turn upon. See start
  2. Slang. To arouse the interest and attention of: attract, interest, intrigue. See excite
phrasal verb

turn out
  1. To supply what is needed for some activity or purpose: accouter, appoint, equip, fit 1, fit out or up , furnish, gear, outfit, rig. See give
  2. Informal. To leave one's bed: arise, get up, pile, rise, roll out. Idiom: rise and shine. See rise
phrasal verb

turn over
  1. To spade or dig (soil) to bring the undersoil to the surface: plow, turn. See move
  2. To turn or cause to turn from a vertical or horizontal position: capsize, knock over, overthrow, overturn, topple, upset. See change, horizontal, move
  3. To think or think about carefully and at length: chew on or over , cogitate, consider, contemplate, deliberate, entertain, excogitate, meditate, mull, muse 1, ponder, reflect, revolve, ruminate, study, think, think out, think over, think through, weigh. Idioms: cudgel one's brains, put on one's thinking cap, rack one's brain. See thoughts
  4. To relinquish to the possession or control of another: deliver, furnish, give, hand, hand over, provide, supply, transfer. See give
  5. To put in the charge of another for care, use, or performance: commend, commit, confide, consign, entrust, give (over), hand over, relegate, trust. Idiom: give in trust (or charge). See give
  6. To direct (a person) elsewhere for help or information: refer, send, transfer. See move
phrasal verb

turn up
  1. To find by investigation: dig (out or up), uncover, unearth. See show
  2. To come to a particular place: arrive, check in, get in, pull in, reach, show up. Slang: blow in. Idiom: make (or put in) an appearance. See start
phrasal verb

turn upon
To be determined by or contingent on something unknown, uncertain, or changeable: depend on or upon , hang on, hang upon, hinge on or upon , rest on or upon , turn on. See start
noun
  1. Circular movement around a point or about an axis: circuit, circulation, circumvolution, gyration, revolution, rotation, wheel, whirl. See geometry, repetition
  2. A calculated change in position: evolution, maneuver, move, movement. See move
  3. Something bent: bend, bow 2, crook, curvature, curve, round. See straight
  4. An often sudden change or departure, as in a trend: shift, tack, twist. See change
  5. A limited, often assigned period of activity, duty, or opportunity: bout, go, hitch, inning (often used in plural), shift, spell 3, stint, stretch, time, tour, trick, watch. See time
  6. An inclination to something: bent, bias, cast, disposition, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, proneness, propensity, squint, tendency, trend. See approach, like
  7. An innate capability: aptitude, aptness, bent, faculty, flair, genius, gift, head, instinct, knack, talent. See ability, approach
  8. A course, process, or journey that ends where it began or repeats itself: circle, circuit, cycle, orbit, round, tour. See repetition
  9. A usually brief and regular journey on foot, especially for exercise: constitutional, walk. See move

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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of The American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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