English Reference
adjective · noun

twisty

adj. · n.
US /ˈtwɪsti/ UK /twˈɪsti/ twisty

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.having many bends or turns rather than being straight.

    adj.characterised by multiple curves, bends, or windings in physical form.

    Simple

    The bus drove slowly along the twisty mountain road.

    In context

    The cyclists struggled to maintain their speed as they navigated the twisty descent through the valley.

    windingcurvytortuous
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    adj.having many unexpected changes or surprises in a story.

    adj.possessing a complex or convoluted narrative structure with frequent plot twists.

    Simple

    I loved the movie, but the plot was so twisty that I got a bit confused.

    In context

    Critics praised the novel for its twisty narrative, though some readers found the final revelation somewhat implausible.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    n.a small triangle or icon on a screen that you click to show or hide information.

    n.a graphical user interface element, often a small arrow, that rotates to expand or collapse a section of content.

    Simple

    Click the small twisty next to the folder name to see the files inside.

    In context

    The developer adjusted the CSS to ensure the twisty rotated smoothly when the user toggled the sidebar menu.

    disclosure triangleexpander
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a small section of hair that has been twisted together.

    n.a strand or section of hair formed into a spiral or braid-like shape by twisting.

    Simple

    She spent the afternoon putting her hair into small, neat twisties.

    In context

    The stylist recommended using a light gel to help the twisties hold their shape throughout the day.


From twist + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated