TURN AROUND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does turn around mean? 

• TURN AROUND (noun)
  The noun TURN AROUND has 1 sense:

1. turning in an opposite direction or position

  Familiarity information: TURN AROUND used as a noun is very rare.

• TURN AROUND (verb)
  The verb TURN AROUND has 3 senses:

1. turn abruptly and face the other way, either physically or metaphorically

2. improve dramatically

3. improve significantly; go from bad to good

  Familiarity information: TURN AROUND used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TURN AROUND (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turning in an opposite direction or position

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

reversal; turn around

Context example:

the reversal of the image in the lens

Hypernyms ("turn around" is a kind of...):

turn; turning (a movement in a new direction)

Derivation:

turn around (turn abruptly and face the other way, either physically or metaphorically)

• TURN AROUND (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turn abruptly and face the other way, either physically or metaphorically

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

swing about; swing around; turn around

Context example:

My conscience told me to turn around before I made a mistake

Hypernyms (to "turn around" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

turn around (turning in an opposite direction or position)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Improve dramatically

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The tutor turned around my son's performance in math

Hypernyms (to "turn around" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Improve significantly; go from bad to good

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

pick up; turn around

Context example:

Her performance in school picked up

Hypernyms (to "turn around" is one way to...):

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

This is good news, so wait for Mercury to turn around and begin your actions several days after March 9.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“It will turn around and blow fair.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But it was the voice that made Martin turn around.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Why, so, he replied: you take a line ashore there on the other side at low water, take a turn about one of them big pines; bring it back, take a turn around the capstan, and lie to for the tide.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

It was all visualized in his mind as a concrete thing which he could take up in his two hands and turn around and about and examine.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The boat-puller obeyed, taking a turn around the little forward thwart and paying the line as it jerked taut.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)