turning
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a place where you can leave one road to join another.
a point at which a road or path branches off from another; a junction or side road.
Simple“Take the second turning on the left after you pass the post office.”
In context“The driver missed the obscure turning into the village, forcing us to continue several miles before we could safely reverse course.”
UsageCommonly used in British English when giving directions; American English speakers typically use 'turn' or 'turn-off'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the movement of something going around in a circle or changing its position.
the action or process of rotating around an axis or changing orientation.
Simple“The constant turning of the wheels made a rhythmic clicking sound.”
In context“The slow turning of the seasons brings a predictable shift in the local ecosystem, affecting both flora and fauna alike.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
the process of using a machine to cut and shape wood or metal while it spins.
the operation of shaping wood, metal, or other material by rotating it against a cutting tool on a lathe.
Simple“He spent years mastering the art of wood turning to make beautiful bowls.”
In context“Precision turning is required to ensure that the metal components fit together with the tight tolerances necessary for aerospace engineering.”
Synonymslatheworkmachining
Usage turning point · turning back
From Middle English turnyng, turnynge, from Old English tyrning, turnung, equivalent to turn + -ing.
From Middle English turninge, turnynge, turninde, turnand, turnende, from Old English tyrnende, turniende, present participle of Old English tyrnan, turnian (“to turn”). Equivalent to turn + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.