twist

I UK [twɪst] / US verb
Word forms "twist":
present tense I/you/we/they twist he/she/it twists present participle twisting past tense twisted past participle twisted
**

1)

a) [transitive] to force something out of its original shape by bending it or turning it round

The force of the explosion had twisted the metal.

She sat there twisting her handkerchief into a knot.

b) [intransitive] to bend or turn into a different shape

Guy's mouth twisted into a wry smile.

2) [transitive] to turn something in a circle with your hands or fingers

She twisted her ring as she spoke.

twist something off something:

Can you twist the cap off this bottle?

3) [transitive] to injure a part of your body such as your knee or wrist by bending it too much or by bending it in the wrong direction

I've twisted my ankle so I won't be able to play.

4)

a) [transitive] to wind something around something else

twist something around/round something:

He twisted vines round the logs to make a raft.

b) to wind several pieces of wool, thread, wire etc over and under each other in order to make one thick piece

twist something around/into something:

Her hair was twisted into a plait on top of her head.

5) [intransitive] if a road or a river twists, it has a lot of bends in it

From here, a narrow road twists up to Alwinton.

twist and turn:

The path twists and turns up the mountainside.

6) [transitive] to change the intended meaning of something slightly so that it means what you want it to mean

"How he twisted things to suit himself!" she thought angrily.

twist someone's words:

You're twisting my words. You know that's not what I meant.

7) [intransitive/transitive] to change the position of part of your body so that you face a different direction

Sanders twisted in his chair to look out of the window.

twist something around/round:

Stretch up, and twist your body round to the right.

•

- twist someone's arm

See:

little finger

II UK [twɪst] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "twist":
singular twist plural twists
*

1)

a) a movement in which you turn a part of your body round so that it is out of its normal position

With a quick twist of his wrist, he turned the handle.

b) a movement in which you turn something in a circle with your hands or fingers

He gave the tap a firm twist, and the dripping stopped.

2) a bend in a road or a river

A twist in the road hid them from view.

twists and turns:

The island roads are full of twists and turns.

3) a sudden unexpected change in a situation

The long-running saga took a new twist this week.

twist to:

There has been a new twist to the crisis this week.

twist in:

This is the final tragic twist in a long story.

a twist of fate/fortune:

His injury was a cruel twist of fate for the team.

4) a small piece of something

twist of:

vodka with a twist of lemon

5) the twist

music a dance to fast music that was popular in the 1960s, in which people twist their bodies from side to side

•

- round the twist

See:

knickers