# turret

/ˈtɝət/ (US) · /tˈʌɹɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turret
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. architecture

noun · CEFR B2

a small tower on the corner of a building, like a castle.

For teachers: a small tower, often purely ornamental, typically projecting from the corner of a building or castle wall.

- The princess looked out from the high turret of the stone castle.
- The Victorian mansion featured a decorative corner turret that offered a panoramic view of the surrounding gardens and the valley beyond.

### 2. military/armour

noun · CEFR B2

the part of a tank or ship that turns and holds a big gun.

For teachers: a self-contained, rotating armoured structure on a vehicle, ship, or aircraft that houses weapons and their crew.

- The tank's turret rotated slowly as the driver looked for the target.
- The battleship was equipped with triple-gun turrets, allowing the crew to engage multiple targets simultaneously across a wide arc of fire.

### 3. historical siege engine

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic

a tall wooden tower on wheels used in ancient battles to climb over walls.

For teachers: a movable wooden siege tower, often several stories high, used in antiquity to transport soldiers and ladders to the top of enemy walls.

- The soldiers pushed the heavy wooden turret toward the city gates.
- Ancient chronicles describe a massive siege turret, nearly thirty metres tall, that allowed the attackers to bypass the fortress's primary defences.

### 4. electronics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small metal post on a circuit board used for connecting wires.

For teachers: a vertical metal post on a circuit board used as a terminal for soldering electrical connections.

- The technician carefully soldered the wire to the turret on the board.
- High-end audio equipment often utilises turret board construction because the sturdy posts allow for more reliable hand-soldered connections than standard printed circuits.

## Examples

- The castle has a small turret on each corner.
- The tank commander rotated the turret to face the target while the driver moved into position.
- From the narrow windows of the stone turret, the guards could see for miles across the valley, ensuring no one approached the fortress unnoticed.

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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.