turn around

== English == === Pronunciation === === Noun === turn around (countable and uncountable, plural turn arounds) Alternative spelling of turnaround. === Verb === turn around (third-person singular simple present turns around, present participle turning around, simple past and past participle turned around) (ergative) To physically rotate (usually around a vertical axis) for a half turn (180 degrees), a whole turn (360 degrees), or an indefinite amount. Synonym: twirl (transitive, figurative) To change drastically in a fundamental way, often for the better; to change to the opposite (opinion or position). (transitive, business, management, sports) To reverse an expected outcome (of a game, etc.), usually from a losing outcome to a winning one; to return (a business, department, etc.) to effectiveness, profitability, etc. (transitive, espionage) To convert (an agent) to work for one's own side. (intransitive, idiomatic, colloquial) To suddenly change or reverse one's opinion, point of view, stated position, behaviour, etc. (transitive, idiomatic, of an idea) To consider from a different viewpoint. (transitive, idiomatic, colloquial) (often with a unit of time) To produce; to output; to generate. ==== Usage notes ==== The business and sports sense is often followed by the intensifier 180 degrees. Deriving from this, phrases such as "I turned the project around 360 degrees" are belittled by prescriptivists, mathematicians and cartoonists alike. Often, the speaker intends the meaning of "180 degrees." ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === “turn around”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.