twig

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a small shoot or branch usually without its leaves
2
: a minute branch of a nerve or artery
twigged adjective
twiggy adjective

twig

2 of 3

verb

twigged; twigging

transitive verb

1
2
: to understand the meaning of : comprehend

intransitive verb

: to gain a grasp : understand
twigged instinctively about thingsH. E. Bates

twig

3 of 3

noun (2)

British

Examples of twig in a Sentence

Verb He seemed confused until he twigged that something was going on. I had to explain it to him three times but he finally twigged.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The user places leaves and small debris, such as twigs, into the top hopper, and there’s a separate side chute for branches up to 3 inches in diameter. Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2024 While there, researchers found a red insect perched on a twig and captured it. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024 In Orange County’s Little Saigon, symbols of the celebration abound in shops and supermarkets: Colorful cymbidium orchids, twigs of bountiful blossoms, and li si, colorful red envelopes intended to be stuffed with money. Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2024 Your yard won’t have to look like a big ol’ pile of twigs, because being mindful doesn’t equal being messy. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024 The crow is teaching itself how to slice a forked twig from the yew tree into a three-pronged tool for digging grubs out of a tree trunk. Anne Carson, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024 Blurring the lines between what’s considered an Easter wreath versus a spring wreath, this 20-inch door decoration has all the hallmarks of both: daisies, berries, greenery, twine, a twig nest, and a Robin’s blue bird eggs with mossy details. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Before Schumer, the Queen of Pop trotted out stars such as Diplo, Donatella Versace and FKA twigs during the ballroom segment of the show. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2024 In the film, soulmates Eric Draven (Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
In hindsight, the impression is of an unwitting team effort, each inventor chipping away at the riddle of cinema without quite twigging its significance. Nat Segnit, Harper's Magazine, 4 Mar. 2022 The blades can handle branches and twigs up to 1 inch thick. Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2023 And the firms have started to twig that lofty statements and charity do not suffice. The Economist, 20 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twig.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English twigge, from Old English; akin to Old High German zwīg twig, Old English twā two

Verb

perhaps from Irish & Scottish Gaelic tuig- understand

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1764, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of twig was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near twig

Cite this Entry

“Twig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twig. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

twig

noun
ˈtwig
: a small shoot or branch usually without its leaves
twiggy
ˈtwig-ē
adjective

Medical Definition

twig

noun
: a minute branch of a nerve or artery
twigs of sensory nerves in the skinLynda Charters

More from Merriam-Webster on twig

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