Turret is a small tower projecting from a fortification, castle, or other structure, typically housing weapons or serving as a lookout. It can also refer to a rotating part of a gun mount or radar system. In everyday use, it denotes a raised, fortified feature or a decorative projecting element on buildings. Pronounced with two syllables, it emphasizes the first syllable: TURRET.
"The castle's turret overlooked the valley, offering a perfect vantage point."
"A turreted balcony wrapped around the corner of the building, giving guests a panoramic view."
"The medieval fortress featured a circular turret at each corner."
"The anti-aircraft turret rotated slowly to scan the skies."
Turret comes from Old French tourret, diminutive of tour (tower), ultimately from Latin turris (tower). The English adoption likely into Middle English by the 14th century, retaining the sense of a small, elevated, turret-like structure on fortifications. Over time, turret broadened to include decorative projections on churches and houses, and later to mechanical contexts (turreted gun mounts, turrets on tanks and submarines). The word preserves the core idea of a raised, rotating or fixed defensive or vantage point. Early usage centers on fortifications and castles; by the 17th–19th centuries, architecture and military technology extended the term to describe notable projecting features and components that can rotate or pivot. First known written records appear in medieval chronicles and architectural treatises describing castle defenses and defensive towers. The semantic expansion retained the core imagery of height and protection, while modern domains borrow the term to denote any small, independent, rotating platform or elevated structure associated with a larger system.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Turret" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Turret"
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Turret is pronounced as TUR-it (ˈtɜːrɪt in US; ˈtɜːrɪt in UK/AU). The first syllable carries the primary stress. Start with an open, mid-back vowel in the first syllable, then quickly reduce the second syllable with a light, unstressed 'it'. Think of a two-syllable word with a clear initial emphasis and a short, clipped second vowel. Audio references: you can compare models on Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries and Forvo pronunciations.
Common errors include saying it like 'turtle' or misplacing the stress on the second syllable (tu-RETT). The correct is RUB-ber? No—ignore. The fix: place primary stress on the first syllable and keep the second syllable short and reduced: TUR-it. Avoid elongating the second vowel; keep /ɪ/ short. Pay attention to the /ɜː/ or /ɜː/ in American/UK/Australian varieties and not turning it into an /ɔ/ or /ʌ/ sound.
In US English, /ˈtɜːrɪt/ has a rhotic r and a clear /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable, with a short 'i' in the second. UK and AU often have similar /ˈtɜːrɪt/, but non-rhotic tendencies in some UK accents can slightly soften the r, especially if following a vowel-heavy phrase. Overall, vowel quality is the main variation; the stress remains on the first syllable. Practice by listening to native examples across regions to fine-tune the /ɜː/ vs /ɜ/ shift and the r-coloring.
Two main challenges: the initial /tɜːr/ onset with a mid-back vowel that can drift toward /ʌ/ or /ɜ/ in some dialects, and the final /ɪt/ that must stay light and unstressed. Speakers also often misplace the stress, saying ter-RET or TUR-ret. Focus on a short, crisp second syllable after the strong first syllable, and keep the /ɜː/ sound steady without turning into a diphthong. Use IPA guides and minimal pairs to anchor pronunciation.
Turret features a stressed first syllable with a mid-back vowel /ɜː/ and a short, lax second syllable /ɪt/. The word has no digraphs masking sounds; the 'ur' digraph yields a single vowel sound rather than a two-letter sequence. The essential nuance is maintaining crisp onset with the /t/ and a reduced, quick /ɪt/ so the word remains two even, punchy syllables. IPA reference and native exemplars help anchor the unique two-syllable cadence.
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