Library / English Dictionary

TURN DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make lower or quieter

Example:

turn down the volume of a radio

Synonyms:

lour; lower; turn down

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "turn down" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take a downward direction

Example:

The economy finally turned down after a long boom

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "turn down" is one way to...):

decline; worsen (grow worse)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reject with contempt

Example:

She spurned his advances

Synonyms:

disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "turn down" is one way to...):

decline; refuse (show unwillingness towards)

Verb group:

decline; pass up; refuse; reject; turn down (refuse to accept)

refuse; reject; turn away; turn down (refuse entrance or membership)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn down"):

rebuff; repel; snub (reject outright and bluntly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

turndown (the act of refusing an offer)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Refuse to accept

Example:

He refused my offer of hospitality

Synonyms:

decline; pass up; refuse; reject; turn down

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Verb group:

disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down (reject with contempt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "turn down"):

dishonor; dishonour (refuse to accept)

bounce (refuse to accept and send back)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sentence example:

They turn down the money

Derivation:

turndown (the act of refusing an offer)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Refuse entrance or membership

Example:

Black people were often rejected by country clubs

Synonyms:

refuse; reject; turn away; turn down

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Verb group:

disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down (reject with contempt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

turndown (the act of refusing an offer)

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