The terms "turning tool" and "lathe tool" are often used interchangeably, but a slight difference, which is rooted
in historical practice, does exist.
Traditionally, a "turning tool" refers specifically to the cutting tool used for longitudinal external turning
operations on a lathe: machining cylindrical, conical, and profiled surfaces. In contrast, "lathe tool" is a broader
term that encompasses any tool used on a lathe.
This covers not only classic turning but also related-to-turning operations like facing, parting (cutting-off),
grooving, chamfering, internal turning (boring), external and internal threading, and even knurling, which is a
forming rather than a cutting process.
Therefore, although today "turning tool" and "lathe tool" are often treated as synonyms, historically and by strict
definition, all turning tools are lathe tools, but not every lathe tool is a turning tool.
Additionally, the
term "lathe tool" is becoming less common and somewhat outdated.