ALL meanings of by turns
turn
B b - phrase by turns You can use by turns to indicate that someone has two particular emotions or qualities, one after the other. 3
- noun by turns one after another; alternately 3
- noun by turns one after another; alternately; in succession 3
- idioms by turns out of turn, not in the correct succession; out of proper order. at an unsuitable time; imprudently; indiscreetly: He spoke out of turn and destroyed the cordial atmosphere of the meeting. 1
- idioms by turns take turns, to succeed one another in order; rotate; alternate: They took turns walking the dog. 1
- idioms by turns to a turn, to just the proper degree; to perfection: The steak was done to a turn. 1
- idioms by turns turn and turn about, by turns: They fought the fire, turn and turn about, until daybreak. 1
- idioms by turns turn one's hand to. hand (def 89). 1
- idioms by turns turn the tables. table (def 24). 1
- idioms by turns turn the tide. tide1 (def 16). 1
- verb with object by turns to cause to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate: to turn a wheel. 1
- verb with object by turns 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 by turns to reverse the position or placement of: to turn a page; to turn an egg; to turn a person around. 1
- verb with object by turns to bring the lower layers of (sod, soil, etc.) to the surface, as in plowing. 1
- verb with object by turns 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 by turns to change or alter the course of; divert; deflect: He turned the blow with his arm. 1
- verb with object by turns to change the focus or tendency of: She skillfully turned the conversation away from so unpleasant a subject. 1
- verb with object by turns to reverse the progress of; cause to retreat: The police turned the advancing rioters by firing over their heads. 1
- verb with object by turns to change or alter the nature, character, or appearance of: Worry turned his hair gray. 1
- verb with object by turns to change or convert (usually followed by into or to): to turn water into ice; to turn tears into laughter. 1
- verb with object by turns to render or make by some change: Fear turned him cowardly and craven. 1
- verb with object by turns to change the color of (leaves). 1
- verb with object by turns to cause to become sour, to ferment, or the like: Warm weather turns milk. 1
- verb with object by turns to cause (the stomach) to reject food, liquid, etc.; affect with nausea. 1
- verb with object by turns to change from one language or form of expression to another; translate. 1
- verb with object by turns to put or apply to some use or purpose: He turned his mind to practical matters. 1
- verb with object by turns to go or pass around or to the other side of: to turn a street corner. 1
- verb with object by turns to get beyond or pass (a certain age, time, amount, etc.): His son just turned four. 1
- verb with object by turns to direct, aim, or set toward, away from, or in a specified direction: to turn the car toward the center of town; to turn one's back to the audience. 1
- verb with object by turns to direct (the eyes, face, etc.) another way; avert. 1
- verb with object by turns to shape (a piece of metal, wood, etc.) into rounded form with a cutting tool while rotating the piece on a lathe. 1
- verb with object by turns to bring into a rounded or curved form in any way. 1
- verb with object by turns to shape artistically or gracefully, especially in rounded form. 1
- verb with object by turns to form or express gracefully: to turn a phrase well. 1
- verb with object by turns to direct (thought, attention, desire, etc.) toward or away from something. 1
- verb with object by turns to cause to go; send; drive: to turn a person from one's door. 1
- verb with object by turns to revolve in the mind; ponder (often followed by over): He turned the idea over a couple of times before acting on it. 1
- verb with object by turns to persuade (a person) to change or reorder the course of his or her life. 1
- verb with object by turns to cause to be prejudiced against: to turn a son against his father. 1
- verb with object by turns to maintain a steady flow or circulation of (money or articles of commerce). 1
- verb with object by turns to earn or gain: He turned a huge profit on the sale. 1
- verb with object by turns to reverse or remake (a garment, shirt collar, etc.) so that the inner side becomes the outer. 1
- verb with object by turns to pour from one container into another by inverting. 1
- verb with object by turns to curve, bend, or twist. 1
- verb with object by turns to twist out of position or sprain; wrench: He turned his ankle. 1
- verb with object by turns to bend back or blunt (the edge of a blade). 1
- verb with object by turns to perform (a gymnastic feat) by rotating or revolving: to turn a somersault. 1
- verb with object by turns to disturb the mental balance of; distract; derange. 1
- verb with object by turns to disorder or upset the placement or condition of: He turned the room upside down. 1
- verb with object by turns Obsolete. to convert. to pervert. 1