twitch

¹

[ twich ]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. to move spasmodically or convulsively; jerk; jump.
2. to give a sharp, sudden pull; tug; pluck (usually followed by at ):

   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

[ twich ]

Trademark.

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

twitch

/ 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

noun

1. a sharp jerking movement
2. a mental or physical twinge
3. See tic
   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

Derived Forms

• ˈtwitching, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• twitcher noun
• twitching·ly adverb
• un·twitched adjective
• un·twitching adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of twitch¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of twitch¹

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

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From Digiday

The brand has also doubled its spend on social platforms, like TikTok, Snapchat and Twitch, since last year.

From Digiday

They were not just twitches or reflexes, I knew for sure, but outright attempts at contact.

From 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.

From Digiday

So what if you can barely twitch a toe let alone move a leg?

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Twitch: I should probably add my own, because I love watching Hearthstone (my favorite professional player is Trump).

From The Daily Beast

The Twomblys, which might appear settled in more sedate company, here writhe and twitch.

From The Daily Beast

Strangely, this has become a particular twitch on the far right—folks who couldn't be getting their history more wrong.

From The Daily Beast

The creature's ears seemed literally to twitch with greed of news as he crossed the great quiet room.

From Project Gutenberg

Not an eyelash quivered, nor did the lips twitch, when he held the keen blade at his breast and dashed himself upon the ground.

From Project Gutenberg

She gave his sleeve a little twitch, smiled confidingly in his face, and sat down to do some much-needed mending.

From Project Gutenberg

Twitch Bell,—continues till the middle of July,—best in the evening,—Stone fly.

From Project Gutenberg

As the letter fluttered out of his hand Stanton closed his eyes with a twitch of physical suffering.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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