noun

turret

/ˈtʌrɪt/ · say it: TUR·it

a small tower projecting from a building

In Architecture & Design

In more detail

1. (noun) a small tower on the corner of a building or castle

2. (noun) a rotating structure on a military tank or ship that holds and rotates guns

Examples

1. The castle had stone turrets at each corner.
2. The tank's turret swiveled to aim at the target.

How to use turret

Turret has two distinct uses: architecturally, it refers to a small decorative or defensive tower, typically at a building's corner; militarily, it describes a rotating armored structure housing weapons on tanks or warships. The architectural sense is more common in historical or heritage contexts, while the military sense appears in technical or historical military discussions.

Common phrases

corner turret
gun turret
rotating turret
turret gun
castle turret
tank turret

Synonyms

tower · battlement · gun mount · revolving gun platform

Word family

turreted (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse turret with tower, but turret specifically denotes a small tower, often cylindrical and projecting from a corner, whereas tower is broader and usually refers to a taller, more substantial structure.

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