1 C1 neutral
In sewing: to fold the edge of fabric underneath before stitching.
"Turn under about one centimetre of fabric before pinning the hem."
separable
turn under
C1 neutral separable transitive
To fold or plow something downward and beneath a surface.
In plain English
Tuck something under or push something down into the ground.
What does "turn under" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
In farming: to plow crop residue or weeds into the soil to enrich it.
"The farmer turned the cover crop under before planting corn in the spring."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To flip something so it goes underneath.
Actually means
Tuck something under or push something down into the ground.
Usage tip
Used in two main contexts: agriculture (plowing plant matter into soil) and sewing/tailoring (folding fabric under before hemming). Uncommon in everyday speech.
Words that pair with "turn under"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hem edge crop soil fabric stubble
How to conjugate "turn under"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
turn under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
turns under
he/she/it
Past simple
turned under
yesterday
Past participle
turned under
have + pp
-ing form
turning under
continuous
Hear "turn under" in the wild
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Other ways to say "turn under"
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