| 释义 |
twitch
I. \ˈtwich\ verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
Etymology: Middle English twicchen; akin to Old English twiccian to pluck, catch hold of, Low German twicken to pinch, tweak, Old High German gizwickan
transitive verb
1. : to pull with a sudden motion : jerk, pluck
< be sure he does not twitch his handwheel back and forth — Coast Artillery Journal >
< twitched him by the sleeve >
2. : to nip or pinch with or as if with pincers : inflict a pinching sting or smart on
< misgivings twitched him at the prospect >
3. : to move (a body part) with a sudden jerky motion
< cows twitched their flanks to drive off flies >
4. : to snatch as a thief or pickpocket
< twitched a purse from his pocket >
5. dialect Britain
a. : to draw tight with a cord
b. : draw (a cord) tight
6. : to close on (a mineral lode) : narrow — used of the surrounding rock
7. New England : skid — used of logs
intransitive verb
1. : pull, pluck
< twitched at my sleeve >
< twitched at her skirt >
2.
a. : to move jerkily : jump, quiver
< her lips began to twitch — Marcia Davenport >
< chestnuts twitched on hot tin drums — Horace Sutton >
b. : to ache with a sudden stabbing pain or twinge
< his corn twitched like a bad tooth >
< her conscience twitched at the memory >
3. : pinch 4
Synonyms: see jerk
II. noun
(-es)
1. : an act of twitching : a short sudden pull or jerk
< by a dexterous twitch got possession of the cuttings — John Buchan >
2. : a sudden sharp pain : pang, twinge
< felt again the twitch of an old wound >
< ignored a passing feeble twitch of conscience >
3. : a loop of rope or strap that is tightened over a horse's upper lip as a restraining device by twisting an attached stick
4. : pinch 4
5.
a. : a short spastic contraction of the muscle fibers : a simple muscular contraction : an involuntary muscular jerk
< the nerve was electrically stimulated and the muscle twitch was recorded — C.H.Thienes >
b. : a slight jerk or motion of a body part
< saw by an icy twitch of her eyebrows that this would be presuming — Marcia Davenport >
III. noun
or twitch grass
(-es)
Etymology: alteration of quitch (grass)
1. : couch grass 1a
2. : slender foxtail
IV. intransitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
: to clear land of twitch grass : gather and burn twitch grass |