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turnup

[ turn-uhp ]
/ ˈtɜrnˌʌp /
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noun
something that is turned up or that turns up.
British. a cuff on a pair of trousers.
Chiefly British. fight; row; disturbance.
adjective
that is or may be turned up.
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Origin of turnup

First recorded in 1605–15; noun use of verb phrase turn up
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use turnup in a sentence

  • (Spoken)—She's a nice wegitable countenance; turnup nose, redish cheeks, and carroty hair.

    Gallery of Comicalities|Robert Cruikshank
  • He has carroty hair, reddish cheeks, a turnup nose, and a sage look.

  • He was a man of medium size, with a pair of small eyes, and a turnup nose.

    Driven From Home|Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for turnup

turn up

verb (adverb)
(intr) to arrive or appearhe turned up late at the party
to find or be found, esp by accidenthis book turned up in the cupboard
(tr) to increase the flow, volume, etc, ofto turn up the radio
(tr) informal to cause to vomit
noun turn-up
(often plural) British the turned-up fold at the bottom of some trouser legsUS and Canadian name: cuff
informal an unexpected or chance occurrence
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

Other Idioms and Phrases with turnup

turn up

1

Increase the volume, speed, intensity, or flow of, as in Turn up the air conditioning; it's too hot in here. [Late 1800s]

2

Find or be found, as in She turned up the missing papers, or Your coat turned up in the closet.

3

Appear, arrive, as in His name turns up in the newspaper now and then, or Some old friends turned up unexpectedly. [c. 1700] This usage gave rise to turn up like a bad penny, meaning that something unwanted constantly reappears, as in Ken turns up like a bad penny whenever there's free liquor. Bad here alludes to a counterfeit coin.

4

Fold or be capable of being folded, as in I'll just turn up the hem, or He preferred cuffs that turn up. [c. 1600]

5

Happen unexpectedly, as in Something turned up so I couldn't go to the play. Also see the following idioms beginning with turn up.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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