twist

noun countable

UK /twɪst/

Word Forms

singular	twist
plural	twists

1
a movement in which you turn a part of your body round so that it is out of its normal position
With a quick twist of his wrist, he turned the handle.
Synonyms and related words
Circular and turning movements and about-turns
turn
spin
swirl
1. 1a
  a movement in which you turn something in a circle with your hands or fingers
  He gave the tap a firm twist, and the dripping stopped.
  Synonyms and related words
  Circular and turning movements and about-turns
  turn
  spin
  swirl
2
a bend in a road or a river
A twist in the road hid them from view.
twists and turns:
The island roads are full of twists and turns.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of roads and road systems
bend
black spot
bus lane
3
a sudden unexpected change in a situation
The long-running saga took a new twist this week.
twist to:
There has been a new twist to the crisis this week.
twist in:
This is the final tragic twist in a long story.
a twist of fate/fortune:
His injury was a cruel twist of fate for the team.
Synonyms and related words
Changes
effect
change
trend
4
a small piece of something
twist of:
vodka with a twist of lemon
Synonyms and related words
Small amounts or pieces of something
bit
piece
fragment
5

the twist
musica dance to fast music that was popular in the 1960s, in which people twist their bodies from side to side
Synonyms and related words
Types of dance
belly dance
bolero
boogie

phrases

round the twist

twist

noun countable

US /twɪst/

Word Forms

singular	twist
plural	twists

1
a movement in which you turn a part of your body around so that it is out of its normal position
With a quick twist of his wrist, he turned the handle.
Synonyms and related words
Circular and turning movements and about-turns
turn
spin
about-face
1. 1a
  a movement in which you turn something in a circle with your hands or fingers
  He gave the faucet a firm twist, and the dripping stopped.
  Synonyms and related words
  Circular and turning movements and about-turns
  turn
  spin
  about-face
2
a bend in a road or a river
twists and turns:
The island roads are full of twists and turns.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of roads and road systems
bend
bicycle lane
bike lane
3
a sudden unexpected change in a situation
The long-running saga took a new twist this week.
a twist of fate/fortune:
His injury was a cruel twist of fate for the team.
twist in:
This is the final tragic twist in a long story.
twist to:
There has been a new twist to the crisis this week.
Synonyms and related words
Changes
change
effect
trend
4
a small piece of something
twist of:
vodka with a twist of lemon
Synonyms and related words
Small amounts or pieces of something
bit
piece
fragment
5

the twist
musica dance to fast music that was popular in the 1960s, in which people twist their bodies from side to side
Synonyms and related words
Types of dance
belly dance
bolero
boogie

twist

verb

UK /twɪst/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	twist
he/she/it	twists
present participle	twisting
past tense	twisted
past participle	twisted

1
transitive to force something out of its original shape by bending it or turning it round
The force of the explosion had twisted the metal.
She sat there twisting her handkerchief into a knot.
Synonyms and related words
To change the shape of something
shape
reshape
form
1. 1a
  intransitive to bend or turn into a different shape
  Guy’s mouth twisted into a wry smile.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change the shape of something
  shape
  reshape
  form
2
transitive to turn something in a circle with your hands or fingers
She twisted her ring as she spoke.
twist something off something:
Can you twist the cap off this bottle?
Synonyms and related words
To move in circles or twists
spin
revolve
whirl
3
transitive to injure a part of your body such as your knee or wrist by bending it too much or by bending it in the wrong direction
I’ve twisted my ankle so I won’t be able to play.
Synonyms and related words
To injure yourself or someone else
injure
harm
wound
4
transitive to wind something around something else
twist something around/round something:
He twisted vines round the logs to make a raft.
Synonyms and related words
To wind or twist something
wind
twist
tangle
1. 4a
  to wind several pieces of wool, thread, wire etc over and under each other in order to make one thick piece
  twist something around/into something:
  Her hair was twisted into a plait on top of her head.
  Synonyms and related words
  To wind or twist something
  wind
  twist
  tangle
5
intransitive if a road or a river twists, it has a lot of bends in it
From here, a narrow road twists up to Alwinton.
twist and turn:
The path twists and turns up the mountainside.
Synonyms and related words
What roads, paths and areas of land do
ascend
bend
bifurcate
6
transitive to change the intended meaning of something slightly so that it means what you want it to mean
‘How he twisted things to suit himself!’ she thought angrily.
twist someone’s words:
You’re twisting my words. You know that’s not what I meant.
Synonyms and related words
Bribery and manipulation
be on the take
blackmail
bribe
7
intransitive/transitive to change the position of part of your body so that you face a different direction
Sanders twisted in his chair to look out of the window.
twist something around/round:
Stretch up, and twist your body round to the right.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend

phrases

twist someone’s arm

twist

verb

US /twɪst/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	twist
he/she/it	twists
present participle	twisting
past tense	twisted
past participle	twisted

1
transitive to force something out of its original shape by bending it or turning it around
The force of the explosion had twisted the metal.
She sat there twisting her handkerchief into a tight knot.
Synonyms and related words
To change the shape of something
reshape
open up
shape
1. 1a
  intransitive to bend or turn into a different shape
  Guy’s mouth twisted into a wry smile.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change the shape of something
  reshape
  open up
  shape
2
intransitive/transitive to change the position of part of your body so that you face a different direction
Sanders twisted in his chair to look out of the window.
twist something around:
Stretch up, and twist your body around to the right.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend
3
transitive to turn something in a circle with your hands or fingers
She twisted her ring as she spoke.
twist something off something:
Can you twist the cap off this bottle?
Synonyms and related words
To move in circles or twists
spin
revolve
whirl
4
transitive to wind something around something else
twist something around something:
He twisted vines around the logs to make a raft.
Synonyms and related words
To wind or twist something
wind
twist
tangle
1. 4a
  to wind several pieces of wool, thread, wire, etc. over and under each other in order to make one thick piece
  twist something around/into something:
  Her hair was twisted into a braid on top of her head.
  Synonyms and related words
  To wind or twist something
  wind
  twist
  tangle
5
intransitive if a road or a river twists, it has a lot of bends in it
From here, a narrow road twists up to the summit.
twist and turn:
The path twists and turns up the mountainside.
Synonyms and related words
What roads, paths and areas of land do
ascend
bend
bifurcate
6
transitive to injure a part of your body such as your knee or wrist by bending it too much or by bending it in the wrong direction
I twisted my ankle, so I won’t be able to play.
Synonyms and related words
To injure yourself or someone else
injure
harm
wound
7
transitive to change the intended meaning of something slightly so that it means what you want it to mean
“How he twisted things to suit himself!” she thought angrily.
twist someone’s words:
You’re twisting my words. You know that’s not what I meant.
Synonyms and related words
Bribery and manipulation
be on the take
blackmail
bribe

phrases

twist someone’s arm

twist ​‌

the twist

twist ​‌

the twist

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twist ​‌‌

twist

twist

twist

twist