twist

twist [twist]

vt.

[ME twisten < OE -twist, a rope (in mæst-twist, rope to stay a mast), akin to TWAIN, TWINE, ON tvistra, to separate, Ger zwist, a quarrel < IE * duis-, apart < base * dwōu-, TWO]

1.

a) to wind (two or more threads or strands) around one another, as by spinning

b) to wind two or more threads or strands of (cotton, silk, etc.) around one another so as to produce thread or cord

c) to produce (thread, cord, etc.) in this way

2. to wreathe; twine

3. to wind or coil (thread, rope, etc.) around something

4. to encircle with a coil of

5. to entwine or interweave in something else

6. to make (one's or its way) by turning one way and then another

7. to give spiral shape to by turning the ends in opposite directions

8.

a) to subject to torsion

b) to put out of shape in this manner; wrench; sprain [to twist one's ankle]

9.

a) to contort or distort (the face, etc.)

b) to cause to be malformed [fingers twisted with arthritis]

10. to cause to become confused or mentally or emotionally disturbed

11. to distort or pervert the meaning of

12. to cause to turn around or rotate

13. to break off by turning the end: often with off

vi.

1. to undergo twisting and thus take on a spiral or coiled form [the wire twists easily]

2. to spiral, coil, twine, etc. (around or about something)

3. to revolve or rotate

4. to turn to one side; change direction

5. to turn one way and then another, as a path; wind; meander

6. to squirm; writhe

7. to move in a curved path, as a ball given a spinning motion

☆ 8. to dance the twist

n.

1. the number of turns given to a specified length of fiber, thread, cord, etc. along its axis

2. a strong, closely twisted silk thread used for making buttonholes, etc.

☆ 3. tobacco leaves twisted into the shape of a roll

4. a loaf of bread or a roll made of one or more twisted pieces of dough

5. a knot, etc. made by twisting

6. a sliver of peel from a lemon, lime, etc. twisted and added to a drink for flavor

7. rotation; spin, turn, twirl, etc.

8. a spin given to a ball in throwing or striking it

9. spiral movement along and around an axis

10.

a) the condition of being twisted in a spiral; torsional stress

b) the degree of this; angle of torsion

11. a contortion, as of the face

12. a wrench or sprain

13. a turning aside; turn; bend

14. a place at which something twists or turns [a twist in the road]

15. a personal tendency, esp. an eccentric one; quirk

16. distortion or perversion, as of meaning

17. an unexpected direction given to or taken by a situation

18. a special or different meaning, method, or slant [a new twist to an old story ]

☆ 19. a rock-and-roll dance characterized by movement of the arms and hips while standing in one place

20. Slang a girl or woman

SYN.- CURVE