n.
Pronunciation: ' t ə r- ə t, ' t ə -r ə t, ' tu ̇ r- ə t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English touret, from Anglo-French turette, tourette, diminutive of tur, tour tower ― more at TOWER
Date: 14th century
1 : a little tower specifically : an ornamental structure at an angle of a larger structure
2 a : a pivoted and revolvable holder in a machine tool b : a device (as on a microscope or a television camera) holding several lenses
3 a : a tall building usually moved on wheels and formerly used for carrying soldiers and equipment for breaching or scaling a wall b (1) : a gunner's fixed or movable enclosure in an airplane (2) : a revolving armored structure on a warship that protects one or more guns mounted within it (3) : a similar upper structure usually for one gun on a tank