v. & n.
v. 1 a tr. change the form of by rotating one end and not the other or the two ends in opposite directions. b intr. undergo such a change; take a twisted position (twisted round in his seat). c tr. wrench or pull out of shape with a twisting action (twisted my ankle). 2 tr. a wind (strands etc.) about each other. b form (a rope etc.) by winding the strands. c (foll. by with, in with) interweave. d form by interweaving or twining. 3 a tr. give a spiral form to (a rod, column, cord, etc.) as by rotating the ends in opposite directions. b intr. take a spiral form. 4 tr. (foll. by off) break off or separate by twisting. 5 tr. distort or misrepresent the meaning of (words). 6 a intr. take a curved course. b tr. make (one's way) in a winding manner. 7 tr. Brit. colloq. cheat (twisted me out of $20). 8 tr. cause (the ball, esp. in billiards) to rotate while following a curved path. 9 tr. (as twisted adj.) (of a person or mind) emotionally unbalanced. 10 intr. dance the twist.
n. 1 the act or an instance of twisting. 2 a a twisted state. b the manner or degree in which a thing is twisted. 3 a thing formed by or as by twisting, esp. a thread or rope etc. made by winding strands together. 4 the point at which a thing twists or bends. 5 usu. derog. a peculiar tendency of mind or character etc. 6 an unexpected development of events, esp. in a story etc. 7 a fine strong silk thread used by tailors etc. 8 a roll of bread, tobacco, etc., in the form of a twist. 9 Brit. a paper packet with screwed-up ends. 10 a curled piece of lemon etc. peel to flavour a drink. 11 a spinning motion given to a ball in cricket etc. to make it take a special curve. 12 a a twisting strain. b the amount of twisting of a rod etc., or the angle showing this. c forward motion combined with rotation about an axis. 13 Brit. a drink made of two ingredients mixed together. 14 Brit. colloq. a swindle. 15 (prec. by the) a dance with a twisting movement of the body, popular in the 1960s. round the twist Brit. sl. crazy. twist a person's arm colloq. apply coercion, esp. by moral pressure. twist round one's finger see FINGER. twistable adj. twisty adj. (twistier, twistiest).
[ ME, rel. to TWIN, TWINE ]