What does tournure mean?
Tournure is an uncommon formal noun denoting an act or manner of turning, with connotations of rotation, elegance, and controlled movement. Its broadest use covers a turn or twist, while a more specific sense refers to a turning or twisting movement of the body, especially in dance and ballet. It can also denote an ornamental ring attached to a key around which the key is turned. Although French-sounding, the word was borrowed from French tournure, meaning a turn or turning, and ultimately derives from the same Latin root that produced English words such as turn, tour, and return. Tournure is chiefly encountered in literary, technical, or specialist contexts rather than ordinary conversation. It is especially useful when precision matters: where “turn” may describe a movement generally, “tournure” can emphasize the manner, form, or controlled quality of that movement.
nounAn act or manner of turning; a turn or twist. The word may also refer specifically to a turning movement of the body or to an ornamental ring on a key around which the key turns.
- An act or manner of turning; a turn or twist.
- A turning or twisting movement of the body, especially in dance or ballet.
- An ornamental ring on a key around which the key can be turned.
"With a single practiced tournure, the dancer completed the turn and faced the audience."
"With a single practiced tournure, the dancer completed the turn and faced the audience."
"The key's ornate metal tournure made it easier to grip and turn."
The plural is used when referring to several distinct turns, movements, or ornamental fittings of this kind.
"The curator compared several tournures from keys in the collection."
Although tournure looks French, it belongs to the same Latin-rooted family as turn, tour, detour, and return.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tournure come from?
English tournure was borrowed from French tournure, a noun meaning a turn, turning, or manner of turning. The French word comes from tourner, “to turn,” which ultimately derives from Latin tornare, “to turn.” Related English words include tour, tournament, detour, and return, all associated with the same broad Latin family of turning.
How tournure is actually used
Tournure is formal, literary, or specialist rather than everyday vocabulary. It is used in discussions of movement, dance, and finely made objects, and readers may not be familiar with its narrower sense for a decorative ring on a key.
Easily confused with tournure
A tournure is a turn or twisting movement, whereas a tourniquet is a band tightened around a limb to stop severe bleeding.