twitch

¹ American  

[twich] / twɪtʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to tug or pull at with a quick, short movement; pluck.

   She twitched him by the sleeve.

2. to jerk rapidly.

   The rider twitched the reins a couple of times.

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

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

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verb (used without object)

1. to move spasmodically or convulsively; jerk; jump.

2. to give a sharp, sudden pull; tug; pluck (usually followed byat ).

   He constantly twitched at his collar.

3. to ache or hurt with a sharp, shooting pain; twinge.

   That back tooth twitches a bit.

noun

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

2. involuntary, spasmodic movement of a muscle; tic.

   He gets a twitch in his left eye when he's nervous.

3. a short, sudden pull or tug; jerk.

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

5. 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.

Twitch ² American  

[twich] / twɪtʃ /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a livestreaming video platform, primarily delivering video game content with audio commentary and concurrent online chat among viewers.

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twitch British  

/ twɪtʃ /

verb

1. to move or cause to move in a jerky spasmodic way

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

3. (intr) to hurt with a sharp spasmodic pain

4. rare (tr) to nip

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noun

1. a sharp jerking movement

2. a mental or physical twinge

3. a sudden muscular spasm, esp one caused by a nervous condition Compare tic

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

Other Word Forms

• twitcher noun
• twitching adjective
• twitchingly adverb
• untwitched adjective
• untwitching adjective

Etymology

Origin of twitch

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English twicchen (verb); akin to Old English twiccian “to pluck”; cognate with German zwicken “to pinch”

Example Sentences

His gray fur looks soft, and his whiskers twitch as he gets closer, like he’s trying to get a sniff of me.

From Literature

By subconsciously mirroring even the subtlest twitches of expression and biological rhythms of other people, we can channel their thoughts and feelings.

From The Wall Street Journal

He was really worried, and between being worried and short and having his hair all chopped up, Eugene began to twitch and wiggle and bite his fingernails and bang himself on the head.

From Literature

We glided along the crowded test route, the steering wheel twitching with small, silent, necessary adjustments.

From The Wall Street Journal

First a dung cart rolled down the block, pulled by a scrawny brown horse that kept twitching its muscles to shoo the flies off its back.

From Literature

Related Words

• blink
• flutter
• jerk
• jiggle
• shudder
• tremble