twist
[ twist ]
/ twɪst /
verb (used with object)
to combine, as two or more strands or threads, by winding together; intertwine.
to form by or as if by winding strands together: Several fibers were used to twist the rope.
to entwine (one thing) with another; interlace (something) with something else; interweave; plait.
to wind or coil (something) about something else; encircle; entwine; wreathe.
to alter in shape, as by turning the ends in opposite directions, so that parts previously in the same straight line and plane are located in a spiral curve: The sculptor twisted the form into an arabesque. He twisted his body around to look behind him.
to turn sharply or wrench out of place; sprain: He twisted his ankle.
to pull, tear, or break off by turning forcibly: He twisted the arm off the puppet.
to distort (the features) by tensing or contracting the facial muscles; contort: She twisted her face in a wry smile.
to distort the meaning or form of; pervert: He twisted my comment about to suit his own purpose.
to cause to become mentally or emotionally distorted; warp: The loss of his business twisted his whole outlook on life.
to form into a coil, knot, or the like by winding, rolling, etc.: to twist the hair into a knot.
to bend tortuously.
to cause to move with a rotary motion, as a ball pitched in a curve.
to turn (something) from one direction to another, as by rotating or revolving: I twisted my chair to face the window.
to combine or associate intimately.
verb (used without object)
to be or become intertwined.
to wind or twine about something.
to writhe or squirm.
to take a spiral form or course; wind, curve, or bend.
to turn or rotate, as on an axis; revolve, as about something; spin.
to turn so as to face in another direction.
to turn, coil, or bend into a spiral shape.
to change shape under forcible turning or twisting.
to move with a progressive rotary motion, as a ball pitched in a curve.
to dance the twist.
noun
a deviation in direction; curve; bend; turn.
the action of turning or rotating on an axis; rotary motion; spin.
anything formed by or as if by twisting or twining parts together.
the act or process of twining strands together, as in thread, yarn, or rope.
a twisting awry or askew.
distortion or perversion, as of meaning or form.
a peculiar attitude or bias; eccentric turn or bent of mind; eccentricity.
spiral disposition, arrangement, or form.
spiral movement or course.
an irregular bend; crook; kink.
a sudden, unanticipated change of course, as of events.
a treatment, method, idea, version, etc., especially one differing from that which preceded: The screenwriters gave the old plot a new twist.
the changing of the shape of anything by or as by turning the ends in opposite directions.
the stress causing this alteration; torque.
the resulting state.
a twisting or torsional action, force, or stress; torsion.
a strong, twisted silk thread, heavier than ordinary sewing silk, for working buttonholes and for other purposes.
a loaf or roll of dough twisted and baked.
a strip of citrus peel that has been twisted and placed in a drink to add flavor.
a kind of tobacco manufactured in the form of a rope or thick cord.
a dance performed by couples and characterized by strongly rhythmic turns and twists of the arms, legs, and torso.
the degree of spiral formed by the grooves in a rifled firearm or cannon.
Gymnastics, Diving. a full rotation of the body about the vertical axis.
a wrench.
Words nearby twist
Idioms for twist
twist one's arm, Informal. to coerce: I didn't want to go, but he twisted my arm.
Origin of twist
1300–50; Middle English twisten to divide, derivative of twist divided object, rope (compare Old English -twist in candel-twist pair of snuffers); cognate with Dutch twisten to quarrel, German Zwist a quarrel. See twi-
OTHER WORDS FROM twist
twist·a·ble, adjectivetwist·a·bil·i·ty, nountwist·ed·ly, adverbtwist·ing·ly, adverb
o·ver·twist, verbre·twist, verbun·twist·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for twist
This is a twist on a classic American pot pie but dressed up for company.
I learned some things I can't unlearn: human kneecaps look like rocks; bones when burnt, shrink and twist.
Knowing Where the Bodies Are Buried: An Excerpt From 'Lives in Ruins'|Marilyn Johnson|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEASTThis year has a twist: several kids quickly forgive their parents for their alleged misdeeds, making for some adorable scenes.
Jimmy Kimmel Pranks Kids (Again), Taylor Swift’s 1989 Aerobics, and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEASTIn a twist, the course of the campaign revealed that when Cassidy was a Democrat in the early 2000s, he donated $500 to Landrieu.
Mary Landrieu-Bill Cassidy Louisiana Senate Race Heads to a Runoff|Tim Mak|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Ted Cruz, Team Player” is a twist few saw coming from the freshman who has made too many enemies to count in Washington.
Mr. Johnson: I take three or four canes, and kind of twist them, give them a little twist, and lay them flat on the ground.
Then a twist of the left handle-bar caused the Comet to slow down, and he pulled back on the bit.
Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends|Stanley R. MatthewsComplex the knots were, but his warped and palsied fingers deftly undid them as though long familiar with each turn and twist.
Darkness and Dawn|George Allan EnglandHe had taken a leaf of the raw tobacco and adding a pinch for filler was trying to twist the spill.
Where the Pavement Ends|John RussellThere isn't a knot or a twist he doesn't know, and you should see him up aloft—a cat's not in it.
Dry Fish and Wet|Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen
British Dictionary definitions for twist
twist
/ (twɪst) /
verb
to cause (one end or part) to turn or (of one end or part) to turn in the opposite direction from another; coil or spin
to distort or be distorted; change in shape
to wind or cause to wind; twine, coil, or intertwineto twist flowers into a wreath
to force or be forced out of the natural form or positionto twist one's ankle
(usually passive) to change or cause to change for the worse in character, meaning, etc; perverthis ideas are twisted; she twisted the statement
to revolve or cause to revolve; rotate
(tr) to wrench with a turning actionto twist something from someone's grasp
(intr) to follow a winding course
(intr) to squirm, as with pain
(intr) to dance the twist
(tr) British informal to cheat; swindle
twist someone's arm to persuade or coerce someone
noun
the act or an instance of twisting
something formed by or as if by twistinga twist of hair
a decisive change of direction, aim, meaning, or character
(in a novel, play, etc) an unexpected event, revelation, or other development
a benda twist in the road
a distortion of the original or natural shape or form
a jerky pull, wrench, or turn
a strange personal characteristic, esp a bad one
a confused mess, tangle, or knot made by twisting
a twisted thread used in sewing where extra strength is needed
(in weaving) a specified direction of twisting the yarn
the twist a modern dance popular in the 1960s, in which couples vigorously twist the hips in time to rhythmic music
a bread loaf or roll made of one or more pieces of twisted dough
a thin sliver of peel from a lemon, lime, etc, twisted and added to a drink
- a cigar made by twisting three cigars around one another
- chewing tobacco made in the form of a roll by twisting the leaves together
physics torsional deformation or shear stress or strain
sport, mainly US and Canadian spin given to a ball in various games, esp baseball
the extent to which the grooves in the bore of a rifled firearm are spiralled
round the twist British slang mad; eccentric
Derived forms of twist
twistable, adjectivetwistability, nountwisted, adjectivetwisting, adjective
twisty, adjective
Word Origin for twist
Old English; related to German dialect Zwist a quarrel, Dutch twisten to quarrel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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