twist

Nouns

  • (n) an unforeseen development
    • events suddenly took an awkward turn
    turn of events, turn,
  • (n) an interpretation of a text or action
    • they put an unsympathetic construction on his conduct
    construction,
  • (n) any clever maneuver
    • he would stoop to any device to win a point
    • it was a great sales gimmick
    • a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen
    device, gimmick,
  • (n) the act of rotating rapidly
    • he gave the crank a spin
    • it broke off after much twisting
    spin, twirl, twisting, whirl,
  • (n) a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments
    • the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell
    • he was sidelined with a hamstring pull
    wrench, pull,
  • (n) a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight twirl, kink,
  • (n) a circular segment of a curve
    • a bend in the road
    • a crook in the path
    bend, turn, crook,
  • (n) a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind resulting when the current of a fluid doubles back on itself eddy,
  • (n) a jerky pulling movement wrench,
  • (n) a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair braid, plait, tress,
  • (n) 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
  • (n) the act of winding or twisting
    • he put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind
    winding, wind,
  • (n) turning or twisting around (in place)
    • with a quick twist of his head he surveyed the room
    turn,

Verbs

  • (v) 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
    squirm, worm, wriggle, writhe, wrestle,
  • (v) cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form
    • bend the rod
    • twist the dough into a braid
    • the strong man could turn an iron bar
    bend, deform, flex, turn,
  • (v) turn in the opposite direction
    • twist one's head
  • (v) form into a spiral shape
    • The cord is all twisted
    distort, twine,
  • (v) form into twists
    • Twist the strips of dough
  • (v) extend in curves and turns
    • The road winds around the lake
    • the path twisted through the forest
    curve, wind,
  • (v) do the twist
  • (v) 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
    • a deep sigh was wrenched from his chest
    wrench,
  • (v) practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive
    • Don't twist my words
    twist around, convolute, pervert, sophisticate,
  • (v) twist suddenly so as to sprain
    • wrench one's ankle
    • The wrestler twisted his shoulder
    • the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell
    • I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days
    sprain, wrick, rick, wrench, turn,

Synonyms

turn of events turn squirm worm wriggle writhe wrestle construction bend deform flex device gimmick spin twirl twisting whirl distort twine wrench pull kink curve wind crook eddy twist around convolute pervert sophisticate sprain wrick rick braid plait tress winding

Antonyms

unbend untwist

Words of close approximity

twig twin twit
twice twill twine Twins twirl twirp
twist around twist bit twist drill twisted twister twisting twistwood twist wood twisty