turret
Americannoun
-
a small tower, usually one forming part of a larger structure.
-
a small tower at an angle of a building, as of a castle or fortress, frequently beginning some distance above the ground.
-
Also called turrethead. a pivoted attachment on a lathe or the like for holding a number of tools, each of which can be presented to the work in rapid succession by a simple rotating movement.
-
Military. a domelike, sometimes heavily armored structure, usually revolving horizontally, within which guns are mounted, as on a fortification, ship, or aircraft.
-
Fortification. a tall structure, usually moved on wheels, formerly employed in breaching or scaling a fortified place, a wall, or the like.
noun
-
a small tower that projects from the wall of a building, esp a medieval castle
-
-
a self-contained structure, capable of rotation, in which weapons are mounted, esp in tanks and warships
-
a similar structure on an aircraft that houses one or more guns and sometimes a gunner
-
-
a tall wooden tower on wheels used formerly by besiegers to scale the walls of a fortress
-
(on a machine tool) a turret-like steel structure with tools projecting radially that can be indexed round to select or to bring each tool to bear on the work
Other Word Forms
- turretless adjective
Etymology
Origin of turret
1300–50; Middle English turet < Middle French turete, equivalent to tur tower 1 + -ete -et
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Traitors are often awake until the wee hours filming turret scenes.
From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026
Complete with a turret and a wraparound balcony, it has been used as a hunting lodge and a place to take afternoon tea.
From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025
Our family was formed largely by the 1926 “Hollywood Eclectic” house, with its steep pitched roof and turret, that we occupied on a scenic mountainside street in Mt.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025
The turret opened and he was told by another officer to get down for his own safety.
From BBC • Aug. 15, 2025
He took one of his spears from Uncle Dap, pulled his tilting helm round in front of him—it had been hanging behind on a chain—and lifted the steel turret into position on his head.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
