twɪst 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 ø20). 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. øround the twist Brit. sl.
crazy. twist a person's arm colloq.
apply coercion, esp. by
moral pressure. twist round one's
finger see FINGER. øøtwistable adj. twisty adj. (twistier, twistiest). [ME, rel. to
TWIN, TWINE]