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• turner
  turner

  noun

  a person or thing that turns or is employed in turning.
• Turner
  Turner

  noun

  Frederick Jackson, 1861–1932, U.S. historian.

turner

¹ American  

[tur-ner] / ˈtɜr nər /

noun

1. a person or thing that turns or is employed in turning.

2. a person who fashions or shapes objects on a lathe.

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turner ² American  

[tur-ner, toor-] / ˈtɜr nər, ˈtʊər- /

noun

1. a member of a turnverein; tumbler or gymnast.

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Turner ³ American  

[tur-ner] / ˈtɜr nər /

noun

1. Frederick Jackson, 1861–1932, U.S. historian.

2. Joseph Mallord William, 1775–1851, English painter.

3. Joseph Vernon Big Joe, 1911–85, U.S. jazz and blues singer.

4. Nat, 1800–31, enslaved African American leader: led uprising of enslaved and free Black people in Southampton County, Virginia, 1831.

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Turner ¹ British  

/ ˈtɜːnə /

noun

1. Jane . born 1961, Australian television actress and writer, best known for playing 'Kath' in the comedy series Kath & Kim (2002–2007)

2. J ( oseph ) M ( allord ) W ( illiam ). 1775–1851, British landscape painter; a master of water colours. He sought to convey atmosphere by means of an innovative use of colour and gradations of light

3. Nat . 1800–31, US rebel slave, who led (1831) Turner's Insurrection, the only major slave revolt in US history: executed

4. Robert Edward III, known as Ted. born 1938, US broadcasting executive and yachtsman; chairman of Turner Broadcasting (1970–96), founder of Cable News Network (1980), and vice-chairman of Time Warner (1996–2003)

5. Tina , real name Annie Mae Bullock . born 1940, US rock singer who performed (1958–75) with her then husband Ike Turner (1931–2007) and later as a solo act. Her recordings include "River Deep, Mountain High" (1966) and "Simply the Best" (1991)

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turner ² British  

/ ˈtɜːnə /

noun

1. a person or thing that turns, esp a person who operates a lathe

2. a member of a society of gymnasts

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Etymology

Origin of turner¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at turn, -er ¹

Origin of turner²

1850–55; < German Turner gymnast, derivative of turnen to exercise < French tourner to turn; see -er ¹

Example Sentences

"The Godfather is a page turner," Trigiani wrote, "but when I searched for the matriarch, she was sorely missing."

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

The story then becomes a page turner, as everyone slowly rises to the occasion and building repairs race against the approaching Hurricane Ella.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Duckett was helpless to one Noman got to shoot, then captain Ben Stokes needlessly followed a wide turner from Sajid.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2024

Even when not knocking opponents on their backsides, Kartye’s physical game can be a momentum turner in gathering loose pucks and directing them toward the net.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 3, 2023

Flossie supported her mother and brother by working as a turner in a kid-glove factory.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith