Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 PHRASAL VERB If you turn something up or if it turns up , you find, discover, or notice it. □ [V P n] Investigations have never turned up any evidence. □ [V P ] …a very rare 15th-century spoon, which turned up in an old house in Devon. [Also V n P ]

3 PHRASAL VERB When you turn up a radio, heater, or other piece of equipment, you increase the amount of sound, heat, or power being produced, by adjusting the controls. □ [V P n] Bill would turn up the TV in the other room. □ [V n P ] I turned the volume up. □ [V n P adj] Turn the heat up high.

turn|about /tɜː ^r nəbaʊt/ N‑SING A turnabout is a complete change in opinion, attitude, or method. □ [+ in ] As her confidence grows you may well see a considerable turnabout in her attitude.

turn|around /tɜː ^r nəraʊnd/ (turnarounds )

1 N‑COUNT A turnaround is a complete change in opinion, attitude, or method. □ [+ in ] I have personally never done such a complete turnaround in my opinion of a person.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A turnaround is a sudden improvement, especially in the success of a business or a country's economy. □ [+ in ] The deal marks a turnaround in the company's fortunes.

3 N‑VAR The turnaround or turnaround time of a task, for example the unloading of an aircraft or ship, is the amount of time that it takes. □  It is possible to produce a result within 34 hours but the standard turnaround is 12 days. □  The agency should reduce turnaround time by 11 per cent.

turn|coat /tɜː ^r nkoʊt/ (turncoats ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a turncoat , you think they are disloyal or deceitful, because they have left their party or organization and joined an opposing one. [DISAPPROVAL ]

tu rned ou t ◆◇◇ ADJ [adv ADJ ] If you are well turned out or smartly turned out , you are dressed smartly. □  …a well-turned-out young chap in a black suit.

turn|ing /tɜː ^r n I ŋ/ (turnings )

1 N‑COUNT If you take a particular turning , you go along a road which leads away from the side of another road. □  Take the next turning on the right.

2 → see also turn

tu rn|ing point (turning points ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A turning point is a time at which an important change takes place which affects the future of a person or thing. □ [+ in/for ] The vote yesterday appears to mark something of a turning point in the war.

tur|nip /tɜː ^r n I p/ (turnips ) N‑VAR A turnip is a round vegetable with a greenish-white skin that is the root of a crop.

tu rn-off (turn-offs )

1 N‑COUNT A turn-off is a road leading away from a major road or a motorway.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Something that is a turn-off causes you to lose interest or sexual excitement. [INFORMAL ]

tu rn-on (turn-ons ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] Something or someone that is a turn-on is sexually exciting. [INFORMAL ]

turn|out /tɜː ^r naʊt/ (turnouts ) also turn-out

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The turnout at an event is the number of people who go to it or take part in it. □  On the big night there was a massive turnout.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The turnout in an election is the number of people who vote in it, as a proportion of the number of people who have the right to vote in it. □ [+ of ] Election officials said the turnout of voters was low. □  A high turnout was reported at the polling booths.

turn|over /tɜː ^r noʊvə ^r / (turnovers )

1 N‑VAR The turnover of a company is the value of the goods or services sold during a particular period of time. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ of ] The company had a turnover of £3.8 million.

2 N‑VAR The turnover of people in an organization or place is the rate at which people leave and are replaced. [BUSINESS ] □  Short-term contracts increase staff turnover. [Also + of ]