turnabout

plural turnabouts · alternative turn-about · alternative turn about

1. countableuncountableThe act of turning about so as to face in the opposite direction.

   It is a fine dance, fast and intricate, with many turnabouts. The women's long black hair swirls as they turn; […]

   1975, National Geographic, volume 148, page 380

2. countableuncountableA change from one thing to its opposite, or from a situation to the reverse.

   Any idea of how many transsexuals there are in America? About 10,000, some 1500 of whom have changed their sex by surgery. The male-to-female turnabout costs $3000-$5000, while the female-to-male process runs up to $12,000.

   1974 April 7, “People”, in Boston Globe

3. countableuncountableA reversal of a decision or opinion etc; a change of mind or flip-flop.
4. countableuncountableA three-point turn or any similar act of turning around, with the same outcome, regardless of how many repeated forward-reverse maneuvers it takes.
5. countableuncountableA merry-go-round.