turnkey

[ turn-kee ]
/ ˈtɜrnˌki /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR turnkey ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural turn·keys.

a person who has charge of the keys of a prison; jailer.

adjective

Also turn-key. of, relating to, or resulting from an arrangement under which a private contractor designs and constructs a project, building, etc., for sale when completely ready for occupancy or operation: turn-key housing, turnkey contract.
fully equipped; ready to go into operation: a turnkey business.

QUIZZES

PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of turnkey

First recorded in 1645–55; turn + key1

Words nearby turnkey

turning point, turnip, turnip cabbage, turnip moth, turnip-rooted celery, turnkey, turnkey project, turnkey system, turnoff, turnon, turnout
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to turnkey

guard, warden

Example sentences from the Web for turnkey

British Dictionary definitions for turnkey

turnkey
/ (ˈtɜːnˌkiː) /

noun

archaic a keeper of the keys, esp in a prison; warder or jailer

adjective

denoting a project, as in civil engineering, in which a single contractor has responsibility for the complete job from the start to the time of installation or occupancy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012