turntable
turntable — noun
- turntablesingular
- turntablesplural
1. the flat circular part of a record player; it spins the vinyl disc so that the n
the flat circular part of a record player; it spins the vinyl disc so that the needle can read the music
Gita placed the vinyl gently onto the turntable and lowered the needle.
collocation: place [a record] onto the turntable
Rodrigo dusted the old turntable before putting on his favourite jazz album.
The turntable spun at thirty-three revolutions per minute as the room filled with music.
Ziad saved up for months to buy a high-quality turntable for his growing record collection.
A speck of dust on the turntable can make the needle skip across the record.
- record deck
more common in British English; often refers to the whole playback unit, not just the spinning plate
- platter
informal; specifically the disc that holds and spins the record
- deck
DJ slang for the complete set-up, especially in pairs
用法筆記
Often paired with verbs of placement: put on, place on, set on. This sense is the only one associated with music and vinyl records — it does not refer to railway equipment (sense 2) or dining trays (sense 3).
常見錯誤
2. a large round platform built into railway tracks, used to rotate a locomotive so
a large round platform built into railway tracks, used to rotate a locomotive so it can head back the way it came
The old steam locomotive rolled slowly onto the turntable at the end of the line.
collocation: roll onto the turntable
Feng watched the railway workers push the massive turntable by hand at the museum.
The turntable at Shrewsbury station has been in use since the age of steam.
Before the turntable was built, engines had to travel backwards for the return journey.
Yael photographed the rusted turntable, half-hidden by weeds near the old depot.
- railway turntable
the full term, used when the context is not already clear
- engine turntable
emphasises that it turns locomotives specifically
用法筆記
A technical railway term that most native speakers encounter only in historical or museum settings. Distinguish from sense 1 ('SPINS RECORDS'): this sense relates to trains, not music.
常見錯誤
3. a round tray placed in the middle of a dining table that can be turned by hand,
a round tray placed in the middle of a dining table that can be turned by hand, letting everyone reach different dishes without passing plates around
Niran spun the turntable to pull the plate of dumplings towards him.
collocation: spin the turntable
At the family reunion, the turntable in the centre held six different dishes.
turntable + hold [dishes]
Quinn turned the turntable so everyone could reach the salad bowl.
The restaurant table had a marble turntable, making it easy to share the meal.
Tomás loaded the turntable with small plates of olives, cheese, and warm bread.
- lazy Susan
the everyday term used in most homes and informal settings
- revolving tray
a descriptive term that does not assume the reader knows what a lazy Susan is
- dining turntable
less common; used mainly in restaurant-equipment catalogues
用法筆記
In everyday English, 'lazy Susan' is far more common than 'turntable' for this meaning. 'Turntable' in this sense appears mostly in restaurant-supply or formal dining contexts.