(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ something, you turn it to make a spiral shape, for example by turning the two ends of it in opposite directions.
Her hands began to ~ the handles of the bag she carried...
Twist the string carefully around the second stem with the other hand...
VERB: V n, V n adv/prep
2.
If you ~ something, especially a part of your body, or if it ~s, it moves into an unusual, uncomfortable, or bent position, for example because of being hit or pushed, or because you are upset.
He ~ed her arms behind her back and clipped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists...
Sophia’s face ~ed in pain...
The body was ~ed, its legs at an awkward angle...
VERB: V n prep, V, V-ed
3.
If you ~ part of your body such as your head or your shoulders, you turn that part while keeping the rest of your body still.
She ~ed her head sideways and looked towards the door...
Susan ~ed round in her seat until she could see Graham and Sabrina behind her...
VERB: V n adv, V adv/prep
4.
If you ~ a part of your body such as your ankle or wrist, you injure it by turning it too sharply, or in an unusual direction.
He fell and ~ed his ankle...
Rupert Moon is out of today’s session with a ~ed knee.
VERB: V n, V-ed
5.
If you ~ something, you turn it so that it moves around in a circular direction.
She was staring down at her hands, ~ing the ring on her finger...
Reaching up to a cupboard he takes out a jar and ~s the lid off.
VERB: V n, V n with adv
•
Twist is also a noun.
The bag is resealed with a simple ~ of the valve.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
6.
If a road or river ~s, it has a lot of sudden changes of direction in it.
The roads ~ round hairpin bends...
The lane ~s and turns between pleasant but unspectacular cottages.
VERB: V prep, V
•
Twist is also a noun.
It allows the train to maintain a constant speed through the ~s and turns of existing track.
N-COUNT: usu pl
7.
If you say that someone has ~ed something that you have said, you disapprove of them because they have repeated it in a way that changes its meaning, in order to harm you or benefit themselves.
It’s a shame the way that the media can ~ your words and misrepresent you...
= distort
VERB: V n disapproval
8.
A ~ in something is an unexpected and significant development.
The battle of the sexes also took a new ~...
N-COUNT
9.
A ~ is the shape that something has when it has been ~ed.
...bunches of violets in ~s of paper...
N-COUNT: usu N of n
10.
If something happens by a ~ of fate, it happens by chance, and it is strange, interesting, or unfortunate in some way.
By a curious ~ of fate, cricket was also my favourite sport...
PHRASE: ~ inflects, usu by/in PHR
11.
to ~ someone ’s arm: see arm
to get your knickers in a ~: see knickers
to ~ the knife: see knife
see also ~ed