twister

[twis-ter]

noun

1. a person or thing that twists.

2. Informal.,  a whirlwind or tornado.

3. Chiefly British Informal.,  a deceitful, unscrupulous person.

twister

/ ˈtwɪstə /

noun

1. a swindling or dishonest person

2. a person or thing that twists, such as a device used in making ropes

3. an informal name for tornado

4. a ball moving with a twisting motion

Word History and Origins

Origin of twister¹

1475–85; 1895–1900 twister for def. 2; twist + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Missouri bore the brunt of the twisters, which began to spawn on Friday.

From BBC

While a twister didn’t end up touching down in San Francisco, one did just south in Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz County.

From Los Angeles Times

The weather service notes most of these twisters are "relatively weak and short-lived, but they still pose a significant threat".

From BBC

She was always more of a flipper than a twister, and Dennis sometimes landed on her neck from over-rotating her warm-up drills.

From Los Angeles Times

Shot on location in the middle of tornado season, Ramos says it was an experience unlike any other — one that quickly taught him and his co-stars just how unpredictable and powerful a twister can be.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cyclone 
• tornado 
• whirlwind