twitch
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make a very small, sudden movement that you often cannot control.
v.to move with a sudden, slight, often involuntary contraction of the muscles.
Simple“His eyelid began to twitch because he was very tired and stressed.”
In context“The dog lay sleeping on the rug, its paws beginning to twitch as if it were chasing something in a dream.”
UsageOften used intransitively to describe body parts like eyes, lips, or limbs.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a short, sudden movement of a muscle.
n.a brief, sudden, and often involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscle group.
Simple“A nervous twitch in his cheek showed that he was actually quite angry.”
In context“The patient complained of a persistent twitch in her left calf, which the doctor attributed to a minor electrolyte imbalance.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a trip taken specifically to see a rare bird that has been spotted somewhere.
n.the act of traveling a long distance to see a rare bird that has been sighted by others.
Simple“He went on a long twitch to the coast to see the rare eagle.”
In context“The news of the rare warbler's arrival sparked a massive twitch, with hundreds of enthusiasts descending on the small nature reserve.”
Teacher's tipThis is a very specific term used by birdwatchers (twitchers) in the UK; general learners may never encounter it outside of hobbyist contexts.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a tool used to keep a horse still by tightening a loop around its lip.
n.a device consisting of a loop of cord or chain at the end of a stick, used to restrain a horse by applying pressure to the upper lip.
Simple“The vet used a twitch to keep the horse calm while cleaning the wound.”
In context“Applying the twitch causes the release of endorphins in the horse, which helps keep the animal stationary during minor medical procedures.”
From Middle English twicchen, from Old English twiċċan, from Proto-West Germanic twikkijan (“to nail, pin, fasten, clasp, pinch”). Cognate with English tweak, Low German twikken, German Low German twicken (“to pinch, pinch off”), zweckōn and gizwickan (> German zwicken (“to pinch”)).
alternate of quitch
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.