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

twisted stomach worm, twister, twisting, twisty, twit, twitch, twitch grass, twitcher, twitching trail, twitchy, twite

Origin of twitch

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

Related forms

twitch·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 Forms

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

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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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of twitch

Related forms

Examples from the Web for twitch

British Dictionary definitions for twitch

twitch

verb

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for twitch

Medicine definitions for twitch

twitch

v.

n.