turnout

turn +‎ out, from the phrasal verb.

turnout (plural turnouts)

1. The number of people who attend or participate in an event (especially an election) or are present at a venue.
   • 2012, The Hyperink Team, Essential Tools For Managing A Restaurant Business, Hyperink Inc (→ISBN):

     Depending on the location of a restaurant, weekdays may equally experience low turnout.

   • 2016, Alistair Jones, Britain and the European Union, Edinburgh University Press (→ISBN), page 212:

     A country which has always had an exceptionally good turnout for its elections to the European Parliament is Belgium. Every single election has had a turnout of over 90 per cent. The reason for this is that there is compulsory voting in Belgium.

2. (US) A place to pull off a road.

   When towing a trailer, use the turnouts to let faster traffic pass.

   • 2011, Douglas Steakley, Photographing Big Sur: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them, The Countryman Press (→ISBN), page 56:

     This is a location that should not be missed, especially during late afternoons in winter. This field can be photographed from the narrow driveway that leads down to the restaurant or from the turnout south of the restaurant, ...

3. (rail transport, chiefly US) A place where moveable rails allow a train to switch tracks; a set of points.
4. (dated) A quitting of employment for the purpose of forcing increase of wages; a strike.
5. That which is prominently brought forward or exhibited; hence, an equipage.

   A man with a showy carriage and horses is said to have a fine turnout.

6. Net quantity of produce yielded.

• (roadside area): lay-by

• turnout gear

• out-turn, outturn