twiddle

[ twid-l ]
See synonyms for twiddle on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),twid·dled, twid·dling.
  1. to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.

verb (used without object),twid·dled, twid·dling.
  1. to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle.

  2. to turn about lightly; twirl.

noun
  1. the act of twiddling; turn; twirl.

Idioms about twiddle

  1. twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing; be idle: Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs.

Origin of twiddle

1
1530–40; perhaps blend of twitch and fiddle

Other words from twiddle

  • twiddler, noun

Words Nearby twiddle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use twiddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for twiddle

twiddle

/ (ˈtwɪdəl) /


verb
  1. (when intr, often foll by with) to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way

  2. to do nothing; be unoccupied

  1. (intr) to turn, twirl, or rotate

  2. (intr) rare to be occupied with trifles

noun
  1. an act or instance of twiddling

Origin of twiddle

1
C16: probably a blend of twirl + fiddle

Derived forms of twiddle

  • twiddler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012