Definition: ‘Turn’ has multiple meanings. As a verb, it can mean to move in a circular direction around an axis or point, to change direction, or to cause something to change position. It also refers to taking action in sequence with others (‘it’s your turn’). As a noun, ‘turn’ can denote an act of moving in a circular direction, a change in direction or position, or an opportunity to act or use something in sequence.
Etymology and Origin: The word ‘turn’ comes from the Old English ‘turnian’, which means ‘to rotate, revolve’, and is derived from the Latin ‘tornare’, meaning ‘to turn on a lathe’. The Latin root is from ‘tornus’, meaning ‘lathe’, which in turn comes from the Greek ‘tornos‘, meaning ‘lathe, tool for drawing circles’. The use of ‘turn’ in English has evolved over time to encompass its various current meanings.
