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turner (n.)
c. 1400, "one who works a lathe," agent noun from turn (v.). As a surname from late 12c.
Entries linking to turner
turn (v.)late Old English turnian "to rotate, revolve," in part also from Old French torner "to turn away or around; draw aside, cause to turn; change, transform; turn on a lathe" (Modern French tourner), both from Latin tornare "to polish, round off, fashion, turn on a lathe," from tornus "lathe," from Greek tornos "lathe, tool for drawing circles," from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn." Transitive sense in English is from c. 1300. Related: Turned; turning.
Use in expression to turn (something) into (something else) probably retains the classical sense of "to shape on a lathe." To turn up "arrive, make an appearance" is recorded from 1755. Turn about "by turns, alternately" is recorded from 1640s. To turn (something) loose "set free" is recorded from 1590s. Turn down (v.) "reject" first recorded 1891, American English. Turn in "go to bed" is attested from 1690s, originally nautical. To turn the stomach "nauseate" is recorded from 1620s. To turn up one's nose as an expression of contempt is attested from 1779.
Turning point is attested by 1640s in a figurative sense "point at which a decisive change takes place;" literal sense "point on which a thing turns; point at which motion in one direction ceases and that in another or contrary direction begins" is from 1660s.
Use in expression to turn (something) into (something else) probably retains the classical sense of "to shape on a lathe." To turn up "arrive, make an appearance" is recorded from 1755. Turn about "by turns, alternately" is recorded from 1640s. To turn (something) loose "set free" is recorded from 1590s. Turn down (v.) "reject" first recorded 1891, American English. Turn in "go to bed" is attested from 1690s, originally nautical. To turn the stomach "nauseate" is recorded from 1620s. To turn up one's nose as an expression of contempt is attested from 1779.
Turning point is attested by 1640s in a figurative sense "point at which a decisive change takes place;" literal sense "point on which a thing turns; point at which motion in one direction ceases and that in another or contrary direction begins" is from 1660s.
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Definitions of turner
1
turner (n.)
a tumbler who is a member of a turnverein;
turner (n.)
a lathe operator;
turner (n.)
one of two persons who swing ropes for jumpers to skip over in the game of jump rope;
turner (n.)
cooking utensil having a flat flexible part and a long handle; used for turning or serving food;
Synonyms: food turner
2
Turner (n.)
United States slave and insurrectionist who in 1831 led a rebellion of slaves in Virginia; he was captured and executed (1800-1831);
Synonyms: Nat Turner
Turner (n.)
United States endocrinologist (1892-1970);
Synonyms: Henry Hubert Turner
Turner (n.)
English landscape painter whose treatment of light and color influenced the French impressionists (1775-1851);
Synonyms: Joseph Mallord William Turner
Turner (n.)
United States historian who stressed the role of the western frontier in American history (1861-1951);
Synonyms: Frederick Jackson Turner
Dictionary entries near turner
turmoil
turn
turn-around
turnbuckle
turncoat
turner
turnip
turnkey
turn-off
turn-on
turn-out
