- twist
- [[t]twɪ̱st[/t]]
♦♦♦twists, twisting, twisted1) VERB If you twist something, you turn it to make a spiral shape, for example by turning the two ends of it in opposite directions.
[V n] Her hands began to twist the handles of the bag she carried...
[V n adv/prep] Twist the string carefully around the second stem with the other hand...
[V n adv/prep] She twisted her hair into a bun and pinned it at the back of her head.
2) V-ERG If you twist something, especially a part of your body, or if it twists, it moves into an unusual, uncomfortable, or bent position, for example because of being hit or pushed, or because you are upset.[V n prep] He twisted her arms behind her back and clipped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists...
Sophia's face twisted in perplexity...
Her hands twisted in her lap...
[V-ed] The body was twisted, its legs at an awkward angle...
[V-ed] The car was left a mess of twisted metal.
3) VERB If you twist part of your body such as your head or your shoulders, you turn that part while keeping the rest of your body still.[V n adv] She twisted her head sideways and looked towards the door...
[V adv/prep] Susan twisted round in her seat until she could see Graham and Sabrina behind her...
[V adv/prep] Holding your arms straight out in front of you, twist to the right and left.
4) VERB If you twist a part of your body such as your ankle or wrist, you injure it by turning it too sharply, or in an unusual direction.[V n] He fell and twisted his ankle...
[V-ed] Rupert Moon is out of today's session with a twisted knee.
5) VERB If you twist something, you turn it so that it moves around in a circular direction.[V n] She was staring down at her hands, twisting the ring on her finger...
[V n] She twisted the handle and opened the door...
[V n with adv] Reaching up to a cupboard he takes out a jar and twists the lid off.
N-COUNT: oft N of nTwist is also a noun.The bag is resealed with a simple twist of the valve.
6) VERB If a road or river twists, it has a lot of sudden changes of direction in it.[V prep] The roads twist round hairpin bends...
The lane twists and turns between pleasant but unspectacular cottages.
N-COUNT: usu plTwist is also a noun.It allows the train to maintain a constant speed through the twists and turns of existing track.
7) VERB (disapproval) If you say that someone has twisted something that you have said, you disapprove of them because they have repeated it in a way that changes its meaning, in order to harm you or benefit themselves.[V n] It's a shame the way that the media can twist your words and misrepresent you...
[V n] Even remarks that were quite innocent could be twisted to produce an unintended effect.
Syn:8) N-COUNT A twist in something is an unexpected and significant development....the twists and turns of economic policy...
The battle of the sexes also took a new twist...
Roger Hardy of the BBC looks at this latest twist in the political crisis in Algeria...
As so often happens, this little story has a twist in the tail.
9) N-COUNT: usu N of n A twist is the shape that something has when it has been twisted....bunches of violets in twists of paper...
A thin twist of smoke curled from the cottage's single chimney.
10) N-SING: the N The twist is a dance that was popular in the 1960's, in which you twist your body and move your hips in an energetic way.11) PHRASE: twist inflects, usu by/in PHR If something happens by a twist of fate, it happens by chance, and it is strange, interesting, or unfortunate in some way.By a curious twist of fate, cricket was also my favourite sport...
In a cruel twist of fate, Ann's husband Bill is also suffering from the disease.
12) → See also twisted
English dictionary. 2008.
