turret

noun

tur·​ret ˈtər-ət 

ˈtə-rət,

ˈtu̇r-ət 

1

: a little tower

specifically : an ornamental structure at an angle of a larger structure

2

a(1)

: a revolving armored structure on a warship that protects one or more guns mounted within it

(2)

: a similar upper structure usually for one gun on a tank

(3)

: a gunner's fixed or movable enclosure in an airplane

b

: a tall building usually moved on wheels and formerly used for carrying soldiers and equipment for breaching or scaling a wall

3

a

: a pivoted and revolvable holder in a machine tool

b

: a device (as on a microscope or a television camera) holding several lenses

Examples of turret in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The finest suites, named Titlis and Belle Époque, parrot the building's turrets with circular layouts and feature furnished balconies with panoramic mountain views. —Alexandra Cheney, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2025

The Klee Bros store lost its turret and soon after, the building was demolished, making way for what would become the Polonia Triangle Plaza. —Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025

Board the train and destroy its turrets to bring it to a screeching halt, then blow open the vault car with Thermite and you'll be rewarded handsomely. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

What happens in the turret has to, unfortunately, stay in the turret. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English touret, from Anglo-French turette, tourette, diminutive of tur, tour tower — more at tower

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for turret

• urate

Kids Definition

turret

noun

tur·​ret ˈtər-ət  ˈtə-rət 

tu̇r-ət

1

: a little tower often at a corner of a building

2

: a low usually rotating structure (as in a tank, warship, or airplane) in which guns are mounted