turn on
[verb]
Synonyms:
- start, activate, ignite, kick-start, start up, switch on
- attack, assail, assault, fall on, round on
- excite, arouse, attract, please, stimulate, thrill, titillate

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English Thesaurus: attack, ambush, mug, stab, assault, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

turn on phrasal verb (see also turn)

1. turn something ↔ on to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, engine, light etc start operating by pushing a button, turning a key etc Synonym : switch on Antonym : turn off:
Jake turned on his computer and checked his mail.

2. turn something ↔ on to make the supply of water, gas etc start flowing from something by turning a handle Antonym : turn off:
He turned on the gas and lit the stove.
‘I’m thirsty,’ she said, turning on the tap.

3. turn on somebody alsoturn upon somebody to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words:
Peter turned on Rae and screamed, ‘Get out of my sight!’

4. turn on something alsoturn upon something if a situation, event, argument etc turns on a particular thing or idea, it depends on that thing:
As usual, everything turned on how much money was available.

5. turn somebody on to make someone feel sexually excited:
The way he looked at her really turned her on. ⇒ turn-on

6. turn somebody on to interest someone, or to make someone become interested in something:
Science fiction just doesn’t turn me on.
turn somebody on to
It was Walter who turned me on to vegetarian food.

7. turn on the charm alsoturn it on to suddenly start to be very nice, amusing, and interesting, especially in a way that is not sincere:
Simon was good at turning on the charm at parties.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ˈturn-on noun [singular]
informal something that makes you feel excited, especially sexually:
It was a turn-on to be the centre of attention.
⇒ turn on(5)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

attack to use violence against someone and try to hurt them:
She was attacked by a man with a baseball bat.
Police dogs are trained to attack.
ambush /ˈæmbʊʃ/ if a group of people ambush someone, they hide and wait for them and then attack them:
The judge was ambushed by gunmen as he drove to work at the courthouse.
mug to attack someone and take money from them in a public place such as a street:
He was mugged on his way home from school.
stab to attack someone with a knife:
The victim had been stabbed in the neck.
assault to attack and hurt someone – used especially when talking about this as a criminal offence:
He assaulted a flight attendant who refused to serve him more drinks.
be set upon by somebody/something written to be attacked by a group of people:
He died outside his home after being set upon by a gang of youths.
turn on to suddenly change your behaviour and attack the person you are with, when they do not expect this:
The dog suddenly turned on him, sinking its teeth into his arm.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

attack noun [uncountable and countable] an act of using weapons against an enemy in a war:
The US was threatening to launch an attack on Iran.
The men had been carrying out rocket attacks on British forces.
Bombs have been falling throughout the night, and the city is still under attack (=being attacked).
invasion noun [uncountable and countable] an occasion when an army enters a country and tries to take control of it:
The Allies began their invasion of Europe.
The threat of foreign invasion is very real.
raid noun [countable] a short attack on a place by soldiers or planes, intended to cause damage but not take control:
an air raid
NATO warplanes carried out a series of bombing raids on the city.
The village has been the target of frequent raids by rebel groups.
strike noun [countable] a sudden military attack, especially after a serious disagreement:
Senior Israeli officials warned that they were still considering a military strike.
the possibility of a nuclear strike
assault noun [countable] a military attack intended to take control of a city, area, or building controlled by an enemy:
The final military assault on Kwangju began at 3 am on May 27.
Hitler launched an all-out assault (=using as many soldiers, weapons, planes etc as possible) on Russia.
ambush noun [uncountable and countable] a sudden attack by people who have been waiting and hiding, especially an attack on a vehicle or people who are travelling somewhere:
Five soldiers were shot in the back and killled in the ambush.
Enemy forces waiting in ambush opened fire on the vehicle.
counterattack noun [uncountable and countable] a military attack made in response to an attack by an enemy:
Government forces launched a counterattack against the guerillas.
If they successfully occupied the city, they would need to be capable of defending it against enemy counterattack.
onslaught noun [countable] formal a large violent attack by an army:
In 1544 there was a full-scale onslaught on France, in which the English took Boulogne.
The troops were preparing for another onslaught against the enemy.
mug to attack someone and take money from them in a public place such as a street:
He was mugged on his way home from school.
stab to attack someone with a knife:
The victim had been stabbed in the neck.
be set upon by somebody/something written to be attacked by a group of people:
He died outside his home after being set upon by a gang of youths.
turn on to suddenly change your behaviour and attack the person you are with, when they do not expect this:
The dog suddenly turned on him, sinking its teeth into his arm.
invade to enter a country and try to get control of it using force:
The Romans invaded Britain 2,000 years ago.
storm to suddenly attack a city or building that is well defended by getting inside it and taking control:
Elite troops stormed the building and rescued the hostages.
besiege /bɪˈsiːdʒ/ to surround a city or building with soldiers in order to stop the people inside from getting out or from receiving supplies:
In April 655, Osman’s palace was besieged by rebels.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

turn on
turn (someone) on
to cause someone to feel excited and very interested.
What turns the kids on these days?

turn on (someone)
to attack or criticize someone suddenly.
He suddenly turned on me and accused me of not supporting him when he needed it.

The country's leaders worry that the people could quickly turn on them.

turn on (something)
to depend on something in an important way.
The success of the talks turns on whether both sides are willing to compromise.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

turn on something
turn on (something)
to depend on something in an important way.
The success of the talks turns on whether both sides are willing to compromise.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

turn on
1. • turn (someone) on
to excite a person, an idea/person/undertaking begins to interest someone
The idea of going to Spain for the summer turned my friend on.

2. • turn on (someone)
to suddenly become hostile to someone
The boy used to be my friend but he suddenly turned on me last summer.

3. • turn on (something)
to open/start something, to let water or electricity flow
"Please turn on the radio so we can hear the evening news."

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

turn on something
• turn on (something)
to open/start something, to let water or electricity flow
"Please turn on the radio so we can hear the evening news."

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

turn on
v.
1. To start by turning a knob or handle or working a switch; cause to be on.
Jack turned on the water.
Who turned the lights on?
2. informal To put forth or succeed with as easily as turning on water.
She really turns on the charm when that new boy is around.
3. To attack.
The lion tamer was afraid the lions would turn on him.
After Joe fumbled the ball and lost the big game, his friends turned on him.
4. slang The opposite of turning someone off; to become greatly interested in an idea, person, or undertaking; to arouse the senses pleasantly.
Mozart's music always turns me on.
5. Introducing someone to a new experience, or set of values.
Benjamin turned me on to transcendental meditation, and ever since I've been feeling great!
Antonym: TURN OFF.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲