Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [turn bak]
- /tɜrn bæk/
- /tɜːn bæk/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [turn bak]
- /tɜrn bæk/
Definitions of turn back words
- verb with object turn back to cause to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate: to turn a wheel. 1
- verb with object turn back to cause to move around or partly around, as for the purpose of opening, closing, or tightening: to turn a key; to turn the cap of a jar. 1
- verb with object turn back to reverse the position or placement of: to turn a page; to turn an egg; to turn a person around. 1
- verb with object turn back to bring the lower layers of (sod, soil, etc.) to the surface, as in plowing. 1
- verb with object turn back to change the position of, by or as if by rotating; move into a different position: to turn the handle one notch. 1
- verb with object turn back to change or alter the course of; divert; deflect: He turned the blow with his arm. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of turn back
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; (v.) Middle English turnen, partly continuing Old English turnian, tyrnan < Latin tornāre to turn in a lathe, round off (derivative of tornus lathe < Greek tórnos tool for making circles), partly < Old French torner, t(o)urner < Latin, as above; (noun) Middle English, partly derivative of the v., partly < Anglo-French *torn, t(o)urn; Old French tor, t(o)ur < Latin tornus, as above
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Turn back
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
turn back popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
turn back usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for turn back
verb turn back
- answer back — If someone, especially a child, answers back, they speak rudely to you when you speak to them.
- backtrack — If you backtrack on a statement or decision you have made, you do or say something that shows that you no longer agree with it or support it.
- be-have — to act in a particular way; conduct or comport oneself or itself: The ship behaves well.
- come again — Some people say 'Come again?' when they want you to repeat what you have just said.
- come and go — to approach or move toward a particular person or place: Come here. Don't come any closer!
Antonyms for turn back
verb turn back
- idle — not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing: idle workers.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with t
- Words starting with tu
- Words starting with tur
- Words starting with turn
- Words starting with turnb
- Words starting with turnba
- Words starting with turnbac
- Words starting with turnback