turnabout

See also: turn-about, and turn about

English

Alternative forms

• turn-about, turn about

Etymology

From turn +‎ about.

Noun

turnabout (countable and uncountable, plural turnabouts)

1. The act of turning about so as to face in the opposite direction.
   • 1975, National Geographic, volume 148, page 380:

     It is a fine dance, fast and intricate, with many turnabouts. The women's long black hair swirls as they turn; […]

2. A change from one thing to its opposite, or from a situation to the reverse.
   • 1974 April 7, “People”, in Boston Globe:

     Any idea of how many transsexuals there are in America? About 10,000, some 1500 of whom have changed their sex by surgery. The male-to-female turnabout costs $3000-$5000, while the female-to-male process runs up to $12,000.

3. A reversal of a decision or opinion etc; a change of mind or flip-flop.
4. A merry-go-round.

Derived terms

• turnabout dance
• turnabout is fair play

Translations

A reversal of a decision or opinion

• Bulgarian: обрат (bg) (obrat)

Anagrams

• about turn, about-turn