twitch

[ twich ]

/ twɪtʃ /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

Origin of twitch

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

Related formstwitch·er, nountwitch·ing·ly, adverbun·twitched, adjectiveun·twitch·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for twitch

“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
On the larger front, it's gotten to the point where I now start to twitch even before clicking on-line.
What Fresh Hell Is This?|Christopher Buckley|October 5, 2008|DAILY BEAST

The corners of his mouth seemed still inclined to twitch, showing that the shock had not yet worn off.
Buffalo Land|W. E. Webb
There was no cowardly doubt in her soul; her cool hand lay in his and did not twitch.
The Goose Man|Jacob Wassermann
Caroline's lips began to twitch; she felt hideously tired, suddenly.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, July 1908.|Various
What terrible tragedy could it be that was still continuing to mar her eyes and twitch her sensitive, red lips?
Quick Action|Robert W. Chambers
All the Supper-time she did nothing but twitch him by the Sleeve, to advise him not to eat so much.
The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume III|Karl Ludwig von Pllnitz

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 Formstwitching, 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

Word Origin and History for twitch

twitch

late 12c., to-twic-chen "pull apart with a quick jerk," related to Old English twiccian "to pluck," from Proto-Germanic *twikjonan (cf. Low German twicken, Dutch twikken, Old High German gizwickan, German zwicken "to pinch, tweak"). Related: Twitched; twitching. The noun is attested from 1520s.

Medicine definitions for twitch

twitch

[ twĭch ]

v.

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

To move jerkily or spasmodically.

To ache sharply from time to time; twinge.

n.

A sudden involuntary or spasmodic muscular movement.

twitch

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Origin of twitch

Examples from the Web for twitch

twitch

verb

noun

Word Origin for twitch

twitch

twitch

v.

n.