ˈtər.ə̇t, ˈtə.rə̇t, ˈtu̇rə̇t usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English turet, touret, from Middle French torete, turete, tourete, from Old French, diminutive of tor, tur tower — more at tower
1. : a little tower ; specifically : an ornamental structure at one of the angles of a larger structure
2. heraldry : a small tower on top of a larger tower
3. : a holder for several tools or devices: as
a. : a pivoted toolholder in a machine tool by which each of various tools can be rapidly moved to the work — called also turrethead
b. : a device for supplying steam from the boiler of a locomotive to auxiliary devices (as a whistle or injector)
c.
(1) : a manifold on a fire apparatus supplying heavy streams of water directly from pumps
(2) also turret nozzle or turret pipe : a monitor mounted on the bed of a fire truck or on the deck of a fireboat
d. : a television device holding usually four lenses and used in association with the camera tube : lens turret
4.
a. : a military siege device consisting of a building often square in form, sometimes having as many as 20 stories, usually moved on wheels, and carrying soldiers, rams, ladders, and bridges for breaching or scaling a wall
b. : an enclosed, cylindrical, or dome-shaped armored structure usually revolving, containing one or more guns, and forming part of a military vehicle, airplane, or ship: as
(1) : a gunner's fixed or movable enclosure in an airplane usually capable of being rotated on one or more axes and often of being raised or lowered so as to protrude a maximal distance only when manned for action
(2) : a revolving structure on a warship protecting the breech portion of the one or more guns mounted within it — compare barbette
(3) : the upper structure of a tank rotatable for swinging the gun mounted within it