twig

¹ American  

[twig] / twɪg /

noun

1. a slender shoot of a tree or other plant.

2. a small offshoot from a branch or stem.

3. a small, dry, woody piece fallen from a branch.

   a fire of twigs.

4. Anatomy. one of the minute branches of a blood vessel or nerve.

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twig ² American  

[twig] / twɪg /

verb (used with object)

twigs, present (3rd person singular) twigged, past participle, past twigging present participle

1. to look at; observe.

   Now, twig the man climbing there, will you?

2. to see; perceive.

   Do you twig the difference in colors?

3. to understand.

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verb (used without object)

twigs, present (3rd person singular) twigged, past participle, past twigging present participle

1. to understand.

twig ³ American  

[twig] / twɪg /

noun

British Archaic.

1. style; fashion.

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twig ¹ British  

/ twɪɡ /

verb

1. to understand (something)

2. to find out or suddenly comprehend (something)

   he hasn't twigged yet

3. rare (tr) to perceive (something)

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twig ² British  

/ twɪɡ /

noun

1. any small branch or shoot of a tree or other woody plant

2. something resembling this, esp a minute branch of a blood vessel

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• twigless
  adjective
• twiglike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• twigging
  present
• twigged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• twig
  simple
• twigs
  simple
• have twigged
  perfect
• has twigged
  perfect
• am twigging
  progressive
• are twigging
  progressive
• is twigging
  progressive
• have been twigging
  perfect progressive
• has been twigging
  perfect progressive

Past

• twigged
  simple
• had twigged
  perfect
• was twigging
  progressive
• were twigging
  progressive
• had been twigging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will twig
  simple
• will have twigged
  perfect
• will be twigging
  progressive
• will have been twigging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of twig¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English twig, twig(g)e; Old English twig, twigge, twī originally “(something) divided in two”; akin to Old High German zwīg ( German Zweig ), Dutch twijg; compare Sanskrit dvikás “double”; see origin at twi- ( def. )

Origin of twig²

First recorded in 1760–70; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Irish tuigim “I understand”

Origin of twig³

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Twig sets out from Thornfield to find Alice, while things progress in the lives of Sally and John and June.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2023

Jessica Burdick, co-owner of the boutique Twig, said she would only receive trial updates from customers.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

More recently, Twig Case Co. has expanded to other Richlite-derived products beyond just iPhone cases, including minimal wallets and guitar picks.

From Washington Times • Apr. 17, 2021

I think now that I’m a little older, now that this door has opened for me, I feel a little bit more like Twig.

From New York Times • Aug. 16, 2012

“I’m sorry,” Twig said into the ringing silence of the empty car.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• limb
• sprig