Lexic.us

Definition of Turn on

1. Verb. Cause to operate by flipping a switch. "Turn on the stereo"

2. Verb. Be contingent on. "Your grade will depends on your homework"

3. Verb. Produce suddenly or automatically. "Turn on the waterworks"

4. Verb. Become hostile towards. "The dog suddenly turned on the mailman"

5. Verb. Cause to be agitated, excited, or roused. "The good news will turn on her"; "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks"

6. Verb. Stimulate sexually. "The performance is likely to turn on Sue"; "This movie usually arouses the male audience"

7. Verb. Get high, stoned, or drugged. "He trips every weekend"

Definition of Turn on

1. Verb. (transitive) To depend upon; to pivot around, to have as a central subject. (defdate from 17th c.) ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To set a flow of (water, gas, electricity etc.) running (defdate from 19th c.) ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) to power up (a device), to start, to cause to start operating. ¹

4. Verb. (intransitive of a device) To start operating; to power up, to become on. (defdate from 19th c.) ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To violently rebel against; to suddenly attack. (defdate from 19th c.) ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To fill with enthusiasm; to intoxicate, give pleasure to ( + '''to''' an object of interest or excitement). (defdate from 20th c.) ¹

7. Verb. (transitive) To sexually arouse. (defdate from 20th c.) ¹

8. Verb. (slang transitive) to cause to take up drugs, especially hallucinogens. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Turn On

turn flukes turn heads turn in turn in one's grave turn indicator turn inside-out turn into turn into a pumpkin turn loose turn of events

turn of logs turn of phrase turn of the century turn of the year turn off turn on a dime turn on its head turn on one's heel turn one's back turn one's nose up

turn one's stomach turn out turn over turn over a new leaf turn round turn signal turn someone's crank turn someone's head

Literary usage of Turn on

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Iliad of Homer by Homer, John Graham Cordery (1871)
"Then in his turn on brave Agenor sprang 710 Pelides ; but Apollo suffer'd not That glory to his arm, but snatch'd him up And wrapp'd him in thick mist, ..."

2. The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events by Frank Moore, Edward Everett (1867)
"Wo can then turn on the force in the cove. Wheeler's cavalry will move on Wilder so as to cover your right I shall be delighted ..."

3. Lawyers' Reports Annotated by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company (1911)
"It was shown at the trial that purposes and uses, and one in such building, taking hold of an incandescent lamp in a reasonably prudent manner, to turn on ..."

4. Democracy and the Organization of Political Parties by Moisei Ostrogorski (1902)
"The greatness and the poverty of contemporary democracy turn on this distinction between the two formulas. Through the mere fact of having realized material ..."

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