twitch

[ twich ]

/ twɪtʃ /

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See synonyms for twitch on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to tug or pull at with a quick, short movement; pluck: She twitched him by the sleeve.

to jerk rapidly: The rider twitched the reins a couple of times.

to move (a part of the body) with a sudden, jerking motion.

to pinch or pull at sharply and painfully; give a smarting pinch to; nip.

verb (used without object)

to move spasmodically or convulsively; jerk; jump.

to give a sharp, sudden pull; tug; pluck (usually followed by at): He constantly twitched at his collar.

to ache or hurt with a sharp, shooting pain; twinge: That back tooth twitches a bit.

noun

a quick, jerky movement of the body or of some part of it.

involuntary, spasmodic movement of a muscle; tic: He gets a twitch in his left eye when he's nervous.

a short, sudden pull or tug; jerk.

a bodily or mental twinge, as of pain, conscience, etc.; pang.

a loop or noose placed over the muzzle of a horse and tightened by twisting a stick or handle to which it is attached, used as a restraining device during a painful operation.

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Origin of twitch

1125–75; Middle English twicchen (v.); akin to Old English twiccian to pluck; cognate with German zwicken to pinch

OTHER WORDS FROM twitch

twitcher, nountwitch·ing·ly, adverbun·twitched, adjectiveun·twitch·ing, adjective

Words nearby twitch

twist in the wind, twist someone's arm, twist tie, twisty, twit, twitch, twitcher, twitch grass, twitching trail, twitchy, twite

Other definitions for twitch (2 of 2)

Twitch

[ twich ]

/ twɪtʃ /

Trademark.

the proprietary name of a livestreaming video platform, primarily delivering video game content with audio commentary and concurrent online chat among viewers.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use twitch in a sentence

As expected, TikTok surged the most, to 68 percent in 2021 from 16 percent in 2020, Snapchat rose to 26 percent from 16 percent, and Twitch lifted to 13 percent from 5 percent.
As influencer marketing grows, one agency startup targets your friends and neighbors to win you over|Michael Bürgi|May 21, 2021|Digiday
The network became Twitch’s first content partner with the debut of a channel dedicated to the zombie drama series, while bringing in McDonald’s to sponsor weekly co-branded MadLibs games.
AMC Networks, Barkley and GoDaddy are Digiday Content Marketing Awards winners|Melissa Hayes|May 6, 2021|Digiday
The brand has also doubled its spend on social platforms, like TikTok, Snapchat and Twitch, since last year.
‘Make the most of the opportunities where they really exist’: Why F’real is dipping into mobile game marketing|Kimeko McCoy|April 29, 2021|Digiday
They were not just twitches or reflexes, I knew for sure, but outright attempts at contact.
Does Birth Order Really Determine Personality? Here's What the Research Says|Lynn Berger|April 13, 2021|Time

The media agency has taken on several digital-first clients, including Twitch, Netflix, Pinterest, Nerdwallet and Dropbox, in part to balance out a heavy load of travel clients that went silent amidst the corona crisis of the last year.
Media Buying Briefing: Mediahub’s Sean Corcoran on diversifying rosters and championing diversity|Michael Bürgi|March 29, 2021|Digiday
So what if you can barely twitch a toe let alone move a leg?
Flying Coach Is the New Hell: How Airlines Engineer You Out of Room|Clive Irving|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“As long as the game is not happening right in front of my nose but somewhere in the midfield, I let it twitch,” he said.
Why Tourette’s May Be Tim Howard’s Secret Weapon on the Field|Michael Daly|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Twitch: I should probably add my own, because I love watching Hearthstone (my favorite professional player is Trump).
Justin Kan, Co-Founder of Twitch, Shares His Home Screen’s Apps|Justin Kan|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Twomblys, which might appear settled in more sedate company, here writhe and twitch.
The Art World’s New Gang War|Anthony Haden-Guest|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Strangely, this has become a particular twitch on the far right—folks who couldn't be getting their history more wrong.
Hey Ted Nugent: You’re No Rosa Parks|John Avlon|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The creature's ears seemed literally to twitch with greed of news as he crossed the great quiet room.
A Butterfly on the Wheel|Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
Not an eyelash quivered, nor did the lips twitch, when he held the keen blade at his breast and dashed himself upon the ground.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
She gave his sleeve a little twitch, smiled confidingly in his face, and sat down to do some much-needed mending.
Overland|John William De Forest
Twitch Bell,—continues till the middle of July,—best in the evening,—Stone fly.
The Teesdale Angler|R Lakeland
As the letter fluttered out of his hand Stanton closed his eyes with a twitch of physical suffering.
Molly Make-Believe|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for twitch

twitch

/ (twɪtʃ) /

verb

to move or cause to move in a jerky spasmodic way

(tr) to pull or draw (something) with a quick jerky movement

(intr) to hurt with a sharp spasmodic pain

(tr) rare to nip

noun

a sharp jerking movement

a mental or physical twinge

a sudden muscular spasm, esp one caused by a nervous conditionCompare tic

a loop of cord used to control a horse by drawing it tight about its upper lip

Derived forms of twitch

twitching, adjective, noun

Word Origin for twitch

Old English twiccian to pluck; related to Old High German zwecchōn to pinch, Dutch twicken

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

Medical definitions for twitch

twitch

[ twĭch ]

To draw, pull, or move suddenly and sharply; jerk.

To move jerkily or spasmodically.

To ache sharply from time to time; twinge.

A sudden involuntary or spasmodic muscular movement.

twitch

Origin of twitch

OTHER WORDS FROM twitch

Words nearby twitch

Other definitions for twitch (2 of 2)

Words related to twitch

How to use twitch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for twitch

Derived forms of twitch

Word Origin for twitch

Medical definitions for twitch