Twist
English Meaning
To contort; to writhe; to complicate; to crook spirally; to convolve.
- To wind together (two or more threads, for example) so as to produce a single strand.
- To form in this manner: twist a length of rope from strands of hemp.
- To wind or coil (vines or rope, for example) about something.
- To interlock or interlace: twist flowers in one's hair.
- To make (one's way) in a tortuous manner: twisted my way through the briar patch.
- To turn so as to face another direction: twisted their heads around at the sound of the doorbell.
- To impart a spiral or coiling shape to, as by turning the ends in opposite directions: twisting wire into a loop.
- To turn or open by turning: twisted off the bottle cap.
- To pull, break, or snap by turning: twist off a dead branch.
- To wrench or sprain: twist one's wrist.
- To alter the normal aspect of; contort: twist one's mouth into a wry smile.
- To alter or distort the intended meaning of: The cross-examiner twisted the words of the witness. See Synonyms at distort.
- To alter or distort the mental, moral, or emotional character of: The trauma twisted the child's outlook.
- To be or become twisted.
- To move or progress in a winding course; meander: The river twisted toward the sea.
- To squirm; writhe: twist with pain.
- To rotate or revolve.
- To dance the twist.
- To move so as to face in another direction.
- Something twisted or formed by twisting, especially:
- A length of yarn, cord, or thread, especially a strong silk thread used mainly to bind the edges of buttonholes.
- Tobacco leaves processed into the form of a rope or roll.
- A loaf of bread or other bakery product made from pieces of dough twisted together.
- A sliver of citrus peel twisted over or dropped into a beverage for flavoring.
- The act of twisting or the condition of being twisted; a spin, twirl, or rotation.
- Sports A complete rotation of the body around its vertical axis, as in diving and gymnastics.
- Sports A spinning motion given to a ball when thrown or struck in a specific way.
- The state of being twisted into a spiral; torsional stress or strain.
- The degree or angle of torsional stress.
- A contortion or distortion of the body, especially the face.
- A distortion of meaning: gave my words a misleading twist.
- A sprain or wrench, as of an ankle.
- A change in direction; a turn: a sharp twist in the path.
- An unexpected change in a process or a departure from a pattern, often producing a distortion or perversion: a twist of fate; a story with a quirky twist.
- A personal inclination or eccentricity; a penchant or flaw: an odd twist to his character.
- A dance characterized by vigorous gyrations of the hips and arms.
- leave to twist To abandon (someone) to a bad situation, often as a recipient of blame: "If our envoy was so blameless, why had she been left to twist in the wind?” ( William Safire).
- twist (someone's) arm Slang To coerce by or as if by physical force: If you twist my arm, I'll stay for a second beer.