turning

Pluralturnings

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of turn. Use this -ing form when the action is happening or when naming the action.

   She is turning the page slowly.

   The car kept turning in circles around the empty lot.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The act of moving something so it spins or twists around.

   Like spinning a doorknob to open a door.

   One turning of the handle opened the heavy gate.

   The slow turning of the merry-go-round made the kids laugh.

   Similarrotation, revolution, twist, spinning

   Note
3. 3
   nounIrelandUKcountable

   A place where a road bends or leads off in a new direction.

   Like the spot where a small path leaves the main path in a park.

   Take the first turning on the left after the shop.

   We missed our turning and had to go back.

   Similarbend, junction, corner, turnoff

   Note
4. 4
   noununcountable

   The shaping of wood or metal by cutting it while it spins on a machine.

   Like shaping clay on a spinning wheel, but cutting wood or metal instead.

   The turning of the table leg took him most of the afternoon.

   She learned the turning of bowls at a weekend class.

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountableplural

   A thin curl of wood or metal cut off while shaping something on a lathe.

   Like the curls of skin that come off when you peel an apple.

   Long turnings of pine fell to the floor as he worked.

   The bin was full of metal turnings by the end of the day.

   Similarshavings, swarf, chips

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   One of four periods, each about 21 years long, that form a longer cycle in a theory about generations.

   Like one of the four seasons in a year, but each lasting about twenty years.

   According to the theory, each turning lasts about twenty years.

   The authors argue that a crisis ends one turning and starts another.

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   In field hockey, a foul where a player blocks an opponent with their body to stop them reaching the ball.

   Like standing in a doorway to stop someone from getting past you.

   The umpire called a turning when she backed into the defender.

   He gave away a turning by shielding the ball with his body.

   Note

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