twisting Definition

twist
verb twisted, twisting

tr & intr
1. To wind or turn round, especially by moving only a single part or by moving different parts in opposite directions.

Example: twist the knob
Example: He twisted round in his seat
Thesaurus: spin, turn, twirl, pivot, swivel, revolve.
intr
2. To follow a winding course.

Example: The road twists through the mountains
tr & intr
3. To wind around or together.

Example: twist the pieces of string together
4. To force or wrench out of the correct shape or position with a sharp turning movement.

Example: twisting his ankle as he fell
5. To distort the form, meaning, implication or balance of something.

Example: twisted his face into an ugly sneer
Example: twisted her words
Thesaurus: misquote, misrepresent, pervert, warp, contort, alter, change.
6. To remove or break off with a sharp turning movement.

Form: twist something off (often)
7. To form something by winding or weaving.
intr
8. To dance the twist.
tr & intr
9. To take or give a spiral or coiled form (to).

noun

1. An act or the process of twisting.
2. Something that is formed by twisting or being twisted.
3. A turn or coil; a bend.
4. A sharp turning movement which pulls something out of shape; a wrench.
5. An unexpected event, development or change, eg of direction.

Example: a twist in the plot
6. A distortion of form, nature or meaning.
7. An eccentricity or perversion.
8. A length of thread, cord, silk, etc formed by twisting two or more strands together.
9a. A twisted roll of bread;
9b. A twisted roll of tobacco;
9c. A curl of citrus peel that is used to flavour a drink.

Example: served with a twist of lemon
10. A piece of paper that has its ends twisted together to form a small packet, especially one that contains a collection of small items such as sweets.
11. A dance that was popular during the 1960s and which involves making twisting movements of the legs and hips.

Form: the twist (usually)

Derivative: twistable
adj

Derivative: twisting
adj, noun

Idiom: get one's knickers in a twist

See under knickers.

Idiom: round the twist

colloq
Mad; crazy.

Idiom: twist someone's arm

colloq
To apply pressure, especially moral pressure, to someone to make them act in the way one wants.

Idiom: twist someone round one's little finger (wind someone round one's little finger)

To manipulate or dominate them unscrupulously.

Idiom: twist the knife in the wound

See under knife.

Etymology: 14c: from English twisten to divide.