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twist

v. · n.
US //ˈtwɪst// UK //twˈɪst// twist
  1. 1 to turn or rotate (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to turn something around or to wind two things together.

    to rotate an object around its axis or to entwine multiple strands into a single cord.

    Example

    You need to twist the cap to open the bottle of soda.

    Example

    The artisan carefully twisted the copper wires together to create a sturdy base for the sculpture.

    Usage

    Often used with 'together' when joining two items.
  2. 2 to injure (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    to hurt a part of your body by turning it the wrong way suddenly.

    to injure a joint or ligament by a sudden, forceful rotation.

    Example

    I twisted my ankle while I was running in the park yesterday.

    Example

    He twisted his knee during the final minutes of the match, forcing the coach to call for a substitution.
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  1. 3 to change meaning (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to change what someone said to make it mean something different.

    to distort or misinterpret a statement or fact, often to suit one's own purposes.

    Example

    Don't twist my words; I never said I wanted to quit the job.

    Example

    The politician was accused of twisting the statistics to make the economic situation appear better than it actually was.
  2. 4 a story change (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    an unexpected change in a story or situation.

    an unexpected development or turn of events in a narrative or situation.

    Example

    The movie has a big twist at the end that nobody expected.

    Example

    The novel's final twist recontextualises the entire plot, revealing that the narrator had been lying from the start.
  3. 5 a bend (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a curve or turn in a road or path.

    a physical bend or curve in a linear object or route.

    Example

    The road has many twists and turns as it goes up the mountain.

    Example

    The path followed the twists of the river, leading the hikers through a series of narrow canyons.
  4. 6 slang for a woman (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Archaic British English

    an old-fashioned and informal word for a girl or woman.

    a slang term for a woman or girl, now largely obsolete or restricted to specific dialects.

    Example

    In the old movie, the character referred to his girlfriend as a 'pretty twist'.

    Example

    The author used period-accurate slang, having the protagonist describe the mysterious newcomer as a 'sharp-looking twist'.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is archaic and mostly found in mid-20th-century literature or film noir; learners should avoid using it in modern conversation.
Origin

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English twist, from Old English twist, in compounds (e.g. mæsttwist (“a rope; stay”), candeltwist (“a wick”)), from Proto-Germanic twistaz, a derivative of *twi- (“two-”) (compare also twine, between, betwixt). Related to Saterland Frisian Twist (“discord”), Dutch twist (“twist; strife; discord”), German Low German Twist (“strife; discord”), German Zwist (“turmoil; strife; discord”), Swedish tvist (“quarrel; dispute”), Icelandic tvistur (“deuce”). The verb is from Middle English twisten. Compare Dutch twisten, Danish tviste (“to dispute”), Swedish tvista (“to argue; dispute”).

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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