turn to

verb

1. speak to (Freq. 12)

-

He addressed the crowd outside the window

• Syn: ↑address

• Derivationally related forms: ↑addressee (for: ↑address)

• Hypernyms: ↑communicate, ↑intercommunicate

• Hyponyms: ↑ask, ↑address, ↑call

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s somebody

2. direct one's interest or attention towards; go into (Freq. 9)

-

The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction

-

People turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

* * *

turn to [phrasal verb]

1 turn to (someone or something) : to go to (someone or something) for support, information, etc.

I was all alone and had no one to turn to.

She became depressed and turned to drugs. [=began using drugs]

— often + for

She turned to a friend for help.

He turned to the employment agency for support.

Turn to [=refer to] the handout for the exact figures.

2 turn to (something)

2 a : to become involved in or with (something)

He turned to a life of crime.

She sang rock music before turning to the blues.

2 b : to begin to deal with (something different) as a topic

The conversation eventually turned to politics.

We should turn to the next item on the list.

2 c : to turn the pages of a book, magazine, etc., until you have reached the desired or specified page

She turned ahead to the third chapter.

Please turn (over) to page 22 of your textbook.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑turn