twist

¹twist

verb \ˈtwist\

Definition of TWIST

transitive verb

1

a : to unite by winding <twisting strands together> b : to make by twisting strands together <twist thread from yarn> c : to mingle by interlacing

2

: twine, coil

3

a : to wring or wrench so as to dislocate or distort; especially : sprain <twisted my ankle> b : to alter the meaning of : distort, pervert <twisted the facts> c : contort <twisted his face into a grin> d : to pull off, turn, or break by torsion <twist the nut off the bolt> e : to cause to move with a turning motion <twisted her chair to face the fire> f : to form into a spiral shape g : to cause to take on moral, mental, or emotional deformity <celebrity has twisted their sense of decorum> h : to make (one's way) in a winding or devious manner to a destination or objective

intransitive verb

1

: to follow a winding course : snake

2

a : to turn or change shape under torsion b : to assume a spiral shape c : squirm, writhe d : to dance the twist

3

of a ball : to rotate while taking a curving path or direction

4

: turn 3a <twisted around to see behind him>

— twist in the wind

: to be left to face a difficult situation without support or help

— twist one's arm

: to bring strong pressure to bear on one

Examples of TWIST

1. The toy can be twisted into different shapes.
2. She twisted balloons into the shapes of different animals.
3. The antenna was twisted out of shape.
4. The car was a heap of twisted metal after the accident.
5. He twists his lip into an odd expression when he's thinking.
6. twist the dials on the radio
7. The bottle cap twists off.

Origin of TWIST

Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch twisten, from twist twine, discord, quarrel; akin to Old English -twist (in candeltwist candlesnuffers, mæsttwist twin support for a mast), Middle English twisten to be forked, Middle High German zwist quarrel, Old English twi- twi-

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to TWIST

Synonyms: bend, color, cook, distort, falsify, fudge, misinterpret, misrelate, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, slant, garble, warp

Related Words: misdescribe, misspeak, mistranslate; belie, camouflage, disguise, dissemble, gloss (over), mask, veil, whitewash; bowdlerize, censor; complicate, confound, confuse, mistake, mix (up); mystify, obscure; equivocate, fib, lie, palter, prevaricate

Near Antonyms: clarify, clear (up), explain, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, spell out; decipher

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