overturn; to cause to roll over. (b) To transfer; as, to turn over business to another hand. (c) To read
or examine, as a book, while, turning the leaves. "We turned o'er many books together." Shak. (d)
To handle in business; to do business to the amount of; as, he turns over millions a year. [Colloq.] —
To turn over a new leaf. See under Leaf. — To turn tail, to run away; to retreat ignominiously.
— To turn the back, to flee; to retreat. — To turn the back on or upon, to treat with contempt; to
reject or refuse unceremoniously. — To turn the corner, to pass the critical stage; to get by the worst
point; hence, to begin to improve, or to succeed. — To turn the die or dice, to change fortune. —
To turn the edge or point of, to bend over the edge or point of so as to make dull; to blunt. — To
turn the head or brain of, to make giddy, wild, insane, or the like; to infatuate; to overthrow the reason
or judgment of; as, a little success turned his head. — To turn the scale or balance, to change the
preponderance; to decide or determine something doubtful. — To turn the stomach of, to nauseate; to
sicken. — To turn the tables, to reverse the chances or conditions of success or superiority; to give
the advantage to the person or side previously at a disadvantage. — To turn tippet, to make a change.
[Obs.] B. Jonson. — To turn to profit, advantage, etc., to make profitable or advantageous. — To
turn up. (a) To turn so as to bring the bottom side on top; as, to turn up the trump. (b) To bring from
beneath to the surface, as in plowing, digging, etc. (c) To give an upward curve to; to tilt; as, to turn up
the nose. — To turn upon, to retort; to throw back; as, to turn the arguments of an opponent upon
himself. — To turn upside down, to confuse by putting things awry; to throw into disorder.
This house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died.
Shak. 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. 11.
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.
