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turning

turning

22 2.5
A change of direction in a road or path
  • noun
  • /ˈtɜrnɪŋ/
translation icon : giro
  • As soon as she passed the turning, she could see the bus standing in the distance.
  • turning point
  • turning away
  • turning back

So in that sense, it's the turning chaos into order.

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Examples

  • You go down that road, there is no turning back.

  • Sheila checked to the right for an opening, ready to abandon the turning lane.

    Academic text (2007)
  • You will come to a turning of the trail to a wall of flame.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Once you have felt the joy of eternity, there is no turning back.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • But once you begin, there's no turning back.

  • The last potential turning point in U.S.-Cuban relations came with the end of the Cold War.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The motion was slight, but it was an obvious turning away from Cheryl.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The screens change, now showing a turning schematic of a brain, alive with neural lightning.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The pilot nodded and swooped the copter around in a turning dive that sent the miners running for cover.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • When you reach the turning, do you want to go left or right?

Synonyms

turn
vsturning
485 1.0

A change of direction in a road or path

is the general process of changing direction or position rather than a label
spin
vsturning
104 1.1

A quick turning movement of an object or person

is similar but covers both slow and quick directional changes
rotation
vsturning
54 2.8

Turning around a central point, for example the Earth spinning once

is the general idea of changing direction not limited to circular motion
revolution
vsturning
  • Specialized
45 3.5

One complete turn around a central point, like a planet or wheel

is broader, applying to partial or complete changes of position
flip
vsturning
31 2.6

A quick toss or turn of something

is the general process of changing direction or position, including slow moves
left turn
vsturning
14 1.0

Moving a vehicle to the left while driving

is broader and does not specify left or right direction
wheeling
vsturning
13 3.1

Moving something on round parts that turn, like a trolley or cart

is more general, including nonwheeled or noncircular changes of position
swerve
vsturning
7 3.7

A sudden sharp turn to avoid something

covers all direction changes, not only emergency or avoidance moves
pivot
vsturning
4 4.0

A turn of the body made by keeping one foot in place

covers this rotation but also other kinds of directional change
deflection
vsturning
4 6.0

How much an object bends or moves away from a straight line

is the general change of position not limited to being diverted aside
3 3.2

A move to face or go a different way

is the broader process of changing position or orientation in general
change of course
vsturning
3 4.2

A move to a different direction physically or in plans

is more general, covering any change of position or orientation
twisting
vsturning
1 2.4

Turning something around quickly so it spins

is the general change of position and may be slower or simpler
rolling
vsturning
1 2.2

Movement when an object turns and moves forward, like a wheel or ball

is broader, covering directional changes not involving surface rotation
clockwise rotation
vsturning
1 3.5

A movement that turns in the same direction as the hands of a clock

is a general directional change not specifying a rotational direction
about turn
vsturning
  • Jargon
1 5.8

A complete change of direction or opinion, often sudden

is the general act of changing direction not necessarily a complete reversal
veering
vsturning
1 5.3

A sudden change of direction while moving

is broader, covering gentle or planned changes as well as sudden ones
u-turn
vsturning
3.2

A complete turn to go the opposite way, like a car on the road

is more general, covering partial or full direction changes

Idioms

A point after which you cannot go back or undo a decision

7.9

Thinking quietly and carefully about something

Compounds

104 3.7

A moment when an important event changes what happens next

11 5.8

Choosing to avoid someone or to stop something from happening

table turning
  • Archaic
9.9

A spiritual practice where people say a table moves during a meeting with spirits

table-turning
  • Informal
7.0

A sudden change that gives the other side the advantage

9.6

A large machine that spins big metal parts so a tool can cut and drill them

How Sharp

to about-face
  • US
1 6.1
hairpin bend
  • UK
1 3.7
swerve
7 3.7
turning
22 2.5
bend
77 1.2

Surface Forms

turning singular
turnings plural

Morphology

turning = turn (transparent) = turn + ing

A straightforward nominalization/gerund of the verb 'turn' meaning the act or process of changing direction.

Etymology

Turning comes from the verb turn, which means 'to change direction', like when you turn a wheel, so a 'turning' is the action or place where someone or something changes direction.