transitive verb
1.
a. : to turn or fold so as to bring the bottom side on top or on the outside
turn up a coat collar
turned up his shirt cuffs
b. : to shorten (as a skirt) especially by making a hem or increasing the width of a hem
c. : to make (a cuff) by folding over the bottom of a sleeve or pant leg
2.
a. : to bring from underneath to the surface (as by digging or plowing)
b. : find , discover
readily have turned up additional examples of the term — C.J.Lovell
the papers soon turned up evidence of skullduggery — Newsweek
3. : to raise or increase by turning a valve or stopcock
turn up the flame of a burner
turn the lights up
4. Britain
a. : to look up (as a word) in a book
assuming again that the interested reader will turn up the poem — F.R.Leavis
b. : to refer to (a book) : consult
5.
a. : to bring to a supine position
b. : kill
6. : to call (a crew) on deck
7. : to turn (a card) face upward
8. Britain
a. : to give up : relinquish
b. : to turn loose : set free
9. : to reach a rotational speed of : develop power to the extent of
engine turns up 101 horsepower
intransitive verb
1. : to appear or come to light unexpectedly or after being lost
number of new species will turn up — C.H.Curran
2.
a. : to turn out to be
turned up missing at roll call
: become visible or evident
name is always turning up in the newspapers
b. : to arrive or show up at an appointed or expected time or place
turned up half an hour late for work
3. : to happen or occur unexpectedly
something always turned up to prevent their meeting
4. of a ship : tack
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- turn up one's nose
- turn up one's toes