I. ˈtwīn noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English twin, twyne, from Old English twīn; akin to Middle Dutch twijn & twern twine, Middle High German zwirn, Old Norse tvinni twine, Old English twēgen, twā, tū two — more at two
1. : a strong string composed of two or more plies or strands twisted together and used for various purposes (as binding small parcels and making nets)
2. : a twined or interlaced part or object: as
a. : the stem of a plant or vine
b. : a coil, twist, or convolution formed or seeming to be formed by winding
c. : something snarled or knotted : tangle
3. : an act of twining, interlacing, or embracing
4. dialect Britain : a peculiar ocean ripple preceding a southeast gale on the coast of Great Britain
5. : a light grayish olive color that is greener and paler than hemp, darker than Quaker gray, and redder and darker than average citron gray — called also anamite, dune
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English twinen, from twin, twyne, n.
transitive verb
1. : to twist together : form by twisting or winding of threads : braid , weave
twine a wreath of flowers
2.
a. : interlace
remembered … the way she had twined and untwined her fingers — John Buchan
b. : to cause to encircle or enfold another : clasp (something) about another : wrap
twined her arms around him
c. : to cause to be encircled with something else
twined the porch pillars with wreathed flowers
3. dialect : twist , wrench , wrest
intransitive verb
1. : to coil about something : twist in spirals
a vine that twines about the tree trunk
: wind
2. : to stretch or move in a winding or sinuous manner : meander , undulate
a snake twined over the ground
a river twines through the valley
3. dialect Britain : squirm
Synonyms: see wind