turn on

Formsturns on, turning on, turned on

1. 1
   start (machine)phrasal verbtransitive

   To make a machine, light, or other thing start working.

   Please turn on the TV so we can watch the game.

   She turned the radio on to hear the news.

   Similaractivate, enable, start (entry)

   Oppositedeactivate, disable

   Note
2. 2
   start (machine)phrasal verbintransitive

   Of a machine, to start working.

   The lights in the hall turn on when you walk in.

   My old phone takes a long time to turn on.

   Similarstart (entry)

3. 3
   phrasal verbtransitive

   To make someone feel sexual desire.

   Confidence turns some people on.

   He knows exactly what will turn his wife on.

   Similararouse, excite

4. 4
   rebel againstphrasal verbtransitive

   To suddenly attack someone or go against them.

   The crowd turned on the referee after the bad call.

   My best friend turned on me and told everyone my secret.

   Similarattack, betray

   Note
5. 5
   start the flowphrasal verbtransitive

   To make water or gas start to flow by turning a faucet or valve.

   Turn the water on and wash your hands.

   We turned on the sprinklers to cool off in the yard.

   Similarstart (entry), open

6. 6
   appealing thingnoun · turn-oncountable

   Something a person finds attractive or exciting, often in a sexual way.

   For her, kindness is a big turn-on.

   A quiet street was a real turn-on when we were looking for a house.

   Similarattraction, draw, plus

   Oppositeturn-off

   Note
7. 7
   spark interestphrasal verbtransitive

   To show someone something new and make them excited about it.

   My aunt turned me on to cooking.

   A friend wants to turn him on to rock climbing this summer.

   Similarintroduce

8. 8
   dependphrasal verbintransitive

   To depend on something, or to be mostly about it.

   Everything turns on the weather tomorrow.

   The game turned on one lucky goal in the last minute.

   Similarhinge, depend, rest, hang

9. 9
   aimphrasal verbtransitive

   To point something, like a light or a gun, at someone or something.

   She turned the flashlight on the dark corner of the basement.

   The farmer turned his camera on the fox in the yard.

   Similaraim, point, train, direct

   Note
10. 10
    set againstphrasal verb

    To make someone go against or attack another person.

    The bully tried to turn the whole class on the new kid.

    Money troubles turned the brothers on each other.

    Similarpit

    Note
11. 11
    get highphrasal verbslangintransitive

    To use drugs.

    They found some pills at the party and turned on in the bathroom.

    He gave up drugs and promised his mother he would never turn on again.

    Note
12. 12
    introduce (drugs)phrasal verbslangtransitive

    To get someone to start taking drugs, especially ones that make people see strange things.

    An older friend turned her on to drugs when she was young.

    A man at the party tried to turn the teenagers on with free pills.

    Similarintroduce

    Note

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