/ twɪst; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
BEND INTO SHAPE
1.
[ vn ] to bend or turn sth into a particular shape :
Twist the wire to form a circle.
2.
[often + adv. / prep. ] to bend or turn sth into a shape or position that is not normal or natural; to be bent or turned in this way :
[ vn ]
He grabbed me and twisted my arm behind my back.
[ v ]
Her face twisted in anger.
TURN BODY
3.
to turn part of your body around while the rest stays still :
[ vn ]
He twisted his head around to look at her.
[ v ]
She twisted in her chair when I called her name.
4.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to turn your body with quick sharp movements and change direction often :
[ v ]
I twisted and turned to avoid being caught.
She tried unsuccessfully to twist free.
[ vn ]
He managed to twist himself round in the restricted space.
TURN WITH HAND
5.
[ vn ] to turn sth around in a circle with your hand :
Twist the knob to the left to open the door.
Nervously I twisted the ring on my finger.
OF ROADS / RIVERS
6.
[ v ] to bend and change direction often :
The road twists and turns along the coast.
narrow twisting streets
a twisting staircase
ANKLE / WRIST / KNEE
7.
[ vn ] to injure part of your body, especially your ankle, wrist or knee, bending it in an awkward way :
She fell and twisted her ankle.
➡ note at injure
WIND AROUND
8.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to wind sth around or through an object :
She twisted a scarf around her head.
The telephone cable has got twisted (= wound around itself) .
9.
[ v ] twist (round / around sth) to move or grow by winding around sth :
A snake was twisting around his arm.
FACTS
10.
[ vn ] to deliberately change the meaning of what sb has said, or to present facts in a particular way, in order to benefit yourself or harm sb else
SYN misrepresent :
You always twist everything I say.
The newspaper was accused of twisting the facts.
THREADS
11.
[ vn ] twist sth (into sth) to turn or wind threads, etc. together to make sth longer or thicker :
They had twisted the sheets into a rope and escaped by climbing down it.
•
IDIOMS
- twist sb's arm
—more at knife noun , little finger
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- twist sth off
■ noun
ACTION OF TURNING
1.
[ C ] the action of turning sth with your hand, or of turning a part of your body :
She gave the lid another twist and it came off.
He gave a shy smile and a little twist of his head.
UNEXPECTED CHANGE
2.
[ C ] an unexpected change or development in a story or situation :
the twists and turns of his political career
The story has taken another twist.
The disappearance of a vital witness added a new twist to the case.
By a curious twist of fate we met again only a week or so later.
IN ROAD / RIVER
3.
[ C ] a sharp bend in a road or river :
The car followed the twists and turns of the mountain road.
SHAPE
4.
[ C ] a thing that has been twisted into a particular shape :
mineral water with a twist of lemon
DANCE
5.
the twist [ sing. ] a fast dance that was popular in the 1960s, in which you twist from side to side
•
IDIOMS
- round the bend / twist
—more at knickers
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English (as a noun), of Germanic origin; probably from the base of twin and twine . Current verb senses date from late Middle English .