turnaround

• turn-around, turn around, turnround

From the verb phrase turn around.

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɜː(ɹ)nəˌɹaʊnd/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

turnaround (countable and uncountable, plural turnarounds)

1. The act of turning to face in the other direction.

   Synonym: U-turn

   The basketball player made a turnaround jump shot

2. A reversal of policy.

   Synonym: U-turn

3. The time required to carry out a task.

   They tried to reduce their turnaround on incoming paperwork.

4. A turnabout; a reversal of circumstances.
   • 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Drogba's goal early in the second half - his fourth in this Wembley showpiece - proved decisive as the remarkable turnaround in Chelsea's fortunes under interim manager Roberto di Matteo was rewarded with silverware.

5. (art) A series of sketches of a character as seen from different angles.
   • 2012, Bryan Tillman, Creative Character Design, page 134:

     Many media arts companies use turnarounds to ensure that when you draw the character you know what it looks like from the front, the side and the back.

6. (music) A cadence linking the end of a verse to the beginning of the next.
7. (music) The notation for the addition of a grace note above then below a given note.
8. (US, historical) Synonym of goback
9. The scheduled shutdown of an industrial plant, such as an oil rig, for maintenance and testing.
10. (film) A contractual provision by which, if the studio elects to abandon a film project, the producer has a limited period in which to sell it elsewhere.
11. (aviation, aerospace) Preparations for takeoff, such as loading and servicing.

• This is the noun. Do not use it for the phrasal verb to turn around.

• turn
• turnover
• turnaround management