turn

verb (BECOME)

/tɜːn/

/tɝːn/

Definition

B2 [L, I or T usually + adv/prep] to (cause to) become, change into, or come to be something: The weather has suddenly turned cold. When I refused to pay, he turned nasty. She turned pale and started to shiver. The mood of the meeting turned solemn when the extent of the problem became known. The companies worked well together for a time, but eventually the relationship turned sour (= became bad). Keele, pop star turned business tycoon, has launched a new range of cosmetics. The dry weather turned the soil into/to concrete. By the end of September, the leaves have started to turn (= become brown). Her attitude turned from politely interested to enthusiastic during the course of our conversation.ChangingAdapting and modifying Adapting and attuning to somethingChanging frequently turn 16, nine o'clock, etc. C1 to become a particular age or time: She turned 18 last year. It's just turned ten o'clock.Describing age and birthdays

(Definition of turn verb (BECOME) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)