Twist meaning

What does “twist” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“twist” is a noun and verb with 23 meanings. Its most common meaning is: an unforeseen development.

twist

noun

  1. an unforeseen development

    “events suddenly took an awkward turn”

  2. an interpretation of a text or action

    “they put an unsympathetic construction on his conduct”

    Synonymsconstruction
  3. any clever maneuver

    “he would stoop to any device to win a point”

    “it was a great sales gimmick”

  4. the act of rotating rapidly

    “he gave the crank a spin”

    “it broke off after much twisting”

  5. a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments

    “the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell”

    “he was sidelined with a hamstring pull”

    Synonymswrenchpull
  6. a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight

    Synonymskinktwirl
  7. a circular segment of a curve

    “a bend in the road”

    “a crook in the path”

  8. a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind resulting when the current of a fluid doubles back on itself

    Synonymseddy
  9. a jerky pulling movement

    Synonymswrench
  10. a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

  11. social dancing in which couples vigorously twist their hips and arms in time to the music; was popular in the 1960s

    “they liked to dance the twist”

  12. the act of winding or twisting

    “he put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind”

    Synonymswindwinding
  13. turning or twisting around (in place)

    “with a quick twist of his head he surveyed the room”

    Synonymsturn

verb

  1. to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

    “The prisoner writhed in discomfort”

    “The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace”

  2. cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form

    “bend the rod”

    “twist the dough into a braid”

  3. turn in the opposite direction

    “twist one's head”

  4. form into a spiral shape

    “The cord is all twisted”

    Synonymstwinedistort
    Oppositesuntwist
  5. form into twists

    “Twist the strips of dough”

  6. extend in curves and turns

    “The road winds around the lake”

    “the path twisted through the forest”

    Synonymswindcurve
  7. do the twist

  8. twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates

    “wrench a window off its hinges”

    “wrench oneself free from somebody's grip”

    Synonymswrench
  9. practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive

    “Don't twist my words”

  10. twist suddenly so as to sprain

    “wrench one's ankle”

    “The wrestler twisted his shoulder”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University