Dictionary
twist
Pronunciation: (twist), [key]—
v.t.
1. to combine, as two or more strands or threads, by winding together; intertwine.
2. to form by or as if by winding strands together:
Several fibers were used to twist the rope.
3. to entwine (one thing) with another; interlace (something) with something else; interweave; plait.
4. to wind or coil (something) about something else; encircle; entwine; wreathe.
5. to alter in shape, as by turning the ends in opposite directions, so that parts previously in the same straight line and plane are located in a spiral curve:
The sculptor twisted the form into an arabesque. He twisted his body around to look behind him.
6. to turn sharply or wrench out of place; sprain:
He twisted his ankle.
7. to pull, tear, or break off by turning forcibly:
He twisted the arm off the puppet.
8. to distort (the features) by tensing or contracting the facial muscles; contort:
She twisted her face in a wry smile.
9. to distort the meaning or form of; pervert:
He twisted my comment about to suit his own purpose.
10. to cause to become mentally or emotionally distorted; warp:
The loss of his business twisted his whole outlook on life.
11. to form into a coil, knot, or the like by winding, rolling, etc.:
to twist the hair into a knot.
12. to bend tortuously.
13. to cause to move with a rotary motion, as a ball pitched in a curve.
14. to turn (something) from one direction to another, as by rotating or revolving:
I twisted my chair to face the window.
15. to combine or associate intimately.
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v.i.
1. to be or become intertwined.
2. to wind or twine about something.
3. to writhe or squirm.
4. to take a spiral form or course; wind, curve, or bend.
5. to turn or rotate, as on an axis; revolve, as about something; spin.
6. to turn so as to face in another direction.
7. to turn, coil, or bend into a spiral shape.
8. to change shape under forcible turning or twisting.
9. to move with a progressive rotary motion, as a ball pitched in a curve.
10. to dance the twist.
11. twist one's arm, Informal.to coerce:
I didn't want to go, but he twisted my arm.
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n.
1. a deviation in direction; curve; bend; turn.
2. the action of turning or rotating on an axis; rotary motion; spin.
3. anything formed by or as if by twisting or twining parts together.
4. the act or process of twining strands together, as in thread, yarn, or rope.
5. a twisting awry or askew.
6. distortion or perversion, as of meaning or form.
7. a peculiar attitude or bias; eccentric turn or bent of mind; eccentricity.
8. spiral disposition, arrangement, or form.
9. spiral movement or course.
10. an irregular bend; crook; kink.
11. a sudden, unanticipated change of course, as of events.
12. a treatment, method, idea, version, etc., esp. one differing from that which preceded:
The screenwriters gave the old plot a new twist.
13. the changing of the shape of anything by or as by turning the ends in opposite directions.
14. the stress causing this alteration; torque.
15. the resulting state.
16. a twisting or torsional action, force, or stress; torsion.
17. a strong, twisted silk thread, heavier than ordinary sewing silk, for working buttonholes and for other purposes.
18. the direction of twisting in weaving yarn; S twist or Z twist.
19. a loaf or roll of dough twisted and baked.
20. a strip of citrus peel that has been twisted and placed in a drink to add flavor.
21. a kind of tobacco manufactured in the form of a rope or thick cord.
22. a dance performed by couples and characterized by strongly rhythmic turns and twists of the arms, legs, and torso.
23. the degree of spiral formed by the grooves in a rifled firearm or cannon.
24. Gymnastics, Diving.a full rotation of the body about the vertical axis.
25. a wrench.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
