# turnover

/ˈtɝˌnoʊvɝ/ (US) · /tˈɜːnəʊvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turnover
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. replacement rate

noun · CEFR B2

the rate at which a shop sells and replaces its stock, or the rate at which employees leave and are replaced.

For teachers: the frequency or ratio at which a particular resource, such as inventory or personnel, is replaced within a given period.

- The company has a high staff turnover because the working hours are very long.
- High employee turnover can be a significant drain on corporate resources due to the cumulative costs of recruitment and training for new hires.

### 3. a type of pastry

noun · CEFR B1

a small pie made by folding a piece of pastry over a filling, like apple or cherry.

For teachers: a small, often semicircular pastry formed by folding a piece of dough over a sweet or savoury filling and sealing the edges.

- I bought a warm apple turnover from the bakery for my breakfast.
- The chef prepared a tray of golden-brown cherry turnovers, dusting each one with a fine layer of powdered sugar before serving.

### 4. loss of possession

noun · CEFR B2

a situation in a game where one team loses the ball to the other team.

For teachers: an instance in which a team loses possession of the ball or puck to the opposition before a shot is attempted.

- The team lost the game because they made too many turnovers in the second half.
- The coach attributed the defeat to a series of unforced turnovers that allowed the opposing team to dominate the transition game.

### 5. transferred apprentice

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a student worker who is moved from one master to another to finish their training.

For teachers: an apprentice who is legally transferred from one master to another to complete the remainder of their term of service.

- The young blacksmith was a turnover, finishing his final year of training with a new master.
- Historical records from the guild indicate that the boy was a turnover, having been reassigned after his original master fell into bankruptcy.

### 6. able to be flipped

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

made in a way that allows it to be turned over or flipped.

For teachers: constructed or designed to be capable of being overturned or inverted.

- The mechanic used a turnover tool to reach the bottom of the engine.
- The assembly line featured a turnover mechanism designed to invert the chassis for underbody inspections.

## Examples

- The restaurant has a high staff turnover during the summer.
- The company reported an annual turnover of five million dollars despite the recent economic downturn.
- High employee turnover often signals underlying issues with corporate culture or compensation structures, leading to increased recruitment costs and a loss of institutional knowledge.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.