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

“The curly tips of unfurled fern fronds. It makes an excellent tongue twister, doesn’t it? Unfurled fern fronds! Unfurled fern fronds!”

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Equally good is a long take that stays on Glinda’s teary face as, just behind her and out of focus, the Wizard and Morrible hatch an assassination plot involving a twister.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But when a twister menaces their city, and Dad calls the boys while on the air, that goes viral and there’s actually a moral to the story.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cyclone 
• tornado 
• whirlwind