What does "turret" mean?
A little tower, frequently a merely ornamental structure at one of the corners of a building or castle.
Turret
/ˈtɝ.ɪt/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A little tower, frequently a merely ornamental structure at one of the corners of a building or castle.
- Grammar: turret is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: gun turret, aeroplane, airplane, antenna tower.
- Useful contrasts: barbette, fixed mount, flat facade.
- Usage evidence: The characteristic feature of a turret lathe is the turret which is mounted upon a carriage and contains the tools which are successively brought into the working position.
How to use "turret"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "turret" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "turret" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "turret" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "turret" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "turret" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "gun turret" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "turret", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A little tower, frequently a merely ornamental structure at one of the corners of a building or castle.
"Their Victorian house had three turrets and a large amount of gingerbread trim."
- 2 a self-contained weapons platform housing guns and capable of rotation wordnet
- 3 A siege tower; a movable building, of a square form, consisting of ten or even twenty stories and sometimes one hundred and twenty cubits high, usually moved on wheels, and employed in approaching a fortified place, for carrying soldiers, engines, ladders, casting bridges, and other necessaries. historical
- 4 a small tower extending above a building wordnet
- 5 A tower-like solder post on a turret board (a circuit board with posts instead of holes).
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 An armoured, rotating gun installation on a fort, ship, aircraft, or armoured fighting vehicle.
- 7 The elevated central portion of the roof of a passenger car, with sides that are pierced for light and ventilation.
- 8 A turret head.
- 9 The central conical ornament atop a spinning roulette wheel.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The characteristic feature of a turret lathe is the turret which is mounted upon a carriage and contains the tools which are successively brought into the working position."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "turret"?
Common synonyms include: gun turret, aeroplane, airplane, antenna tower, armament turret, barbican.
How do you use "turret" in a sentence?
The characteristic feature of a turret lathe is the turret which is mounted upon a carriage and contains the tools which are successively brought into the working position.
How do you pronounce "turret"?
Pronounced /ˈtɝ.ɪt/.
Etymology
From Middle English touret, from Old French torete (French tourette), diminutive of tour (“tower”), from Latin turris. Doublet of tor, tourelle, and tower. See tower.