26984 words

twist

17 definitions • 31 examples
1
to turn something, especially repeatedly, or to turn or wrap one thing around another:

Examples:

twist and turn The path twists and turns for over a mile.
She sat there nervously twisting the ring around on her finger.
She twisted her head (round) so she could see what was happening.
Twist the rope tightly round that post over there.
2
If you twist a part of your body, such as your ankle, you injure it by suddenly turning it:

Examples:

She slipped on the ice and twisted her knee.
3
to change information so that it gives the message you want it to give, especially in a way that is dishonest:

Examples:

This report shows how she twisted the truth to claim successes where none, in fact, existed.
You're twisting my words - that's not what I said at all.
4
an act of twisting something:

Examples:

She gave the cap another twist to make sure it was tight.
an Elvis-style twist of the hips
5
the shape of or a piece of something that has been twisted:

Examples:

twist of Long twists of grey hair fell over her face.
a twist of lemon
6
a tight bend:

Examples:

twists and turns a path with many twists and turns
7
in sports such as diving and gymnastics, a movement in which a person turns their whole body while in the air :

Examples:

The dive includes two-and-a-half somersaults with two-and-a-half twists.
8
a change in the way in which something happens:

Examples:

take a twist The story took a surprise twist today with media reports that the doctor had resigned.
latest twist The incident was the latest twist in the continuing saga of fraud and high scandal in banks and stock brokerages.
twist of fate/fortune But for a cruel twist of fate/fortune, he could now be running his own business.
twist in/to There's an unexpected twist in/to the plot towards the end of the film.
9

Examples:

twists and turns the twists and turns of fate
It has proved very difficult to unravel the twists and turns and contradictions of the evidence.
10
a dance in which people stay in one place and twist their bodies from side to side to music
11
a hairstyle in which the hair is divided into many sections, then each section divided into two parts that are twisted around each other to form a type of braid:

Examples:

She went to the salon and had her hair done up in twists.
12
to turn repeatedly, or to combine thin lengths of a material by turning or wrapping:

Examples:

[ I ] A river twists through the valley.
[ I ] Vines twisted around the trunk of the old tree.
13
If you twist a part of your body, you hurt it by turning it awkwardly:

Examples:

[ T ] He twisted his knee in the game on Saturday.
14
to change the meaning of facts or a statement; distort:

Examples:

You’re twisting my words – that’s not what I meant at all.
During the trial, lawyers twisted the truth to gain the jury’s sympathy.
15

Examples:

The path wound its way down the hill in a series of twists.
One more twist should tighten the cover.
16
A twist can also be something that has been twisted:

Examples:

She added a twist of lemon to her cola.
17
an unexpected change:

Examples:

The incident was the latest twist in the story of the robbery.
Walnuts give a new twist to regular banana bread.

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