twist (twist)

verb

• 1form into a bent, curling, or distorted shape: a strip of metal is twisted to form a hollow tube her pretty features twisted into a fearsome expression
• [with object and adverbial] form (something) into a particular shape by taking hold of one or both ends and turning them: she twisted her handkerchief into a knot
• [with object and adverbial] turn or bend into a specified position or in a specified direction: he grabbed the man and twisted his arm behind his back
• (twist something off) remove something by pulling and rotating it: beetroot can be stored once the leaves have been twisted off
• [no object] move one’s body so that the shoulders and hips are facing in different directions: she twisted in her seat to look at the buildings
• [no object, with adverbial] move in a wriggling or writhing fashion: he twisted himself free
• injure (a joint) by wrenching it: he twisted his ankle trying to avoid his opponent’s lunge
• distort or misrepresent the meaning of (words): he twisted my words to make it seem that I’d claimed she was a drug addict

• 2cause to rotate around a stationary point; turn: she twisted her ring round and round on her finger
• [with object and adverbial] wind around or through something: she twisted a lock of hair around her finger
• move or cause to move around each other; interlace: [with object]: she twisted her hands together nervously the machine twists together strands to make a double yarn
• make (something) by interlacing or winding strands together: he could twist a rope strong enough to hold a mule
• [no object] take or have a winding course: the railway lines twist and turn round the hills

• 3 [no object] dance the twist.

• 4British informal cheat; defraud.

• 5 [no object] (in pontoon) request, deal, or be dealt a card face upwards.

noun

• 1an act of twisting something around a stationary point: the taps needed a single twist to turn them on
• an act of turning one’s body or part of one’s body: with a sudden twist, she got away from him
• (the twist) a dance with a twisting movement of the body, popular in the 1960s: lets do the twist
• [mass noun] the extent of twisting of a rod or other object.
• [mass noun] force producing twisting; torque.
• [mass noun] forward motion combined with rotation about an axis.
• the rifling in the bore of a gun: barrels with a 1:24 inch twist

• 2a thing with a spiral shape: a barley sugar twist
• British a paper packet with twisted ends: he handed her a twist of paper
• a small quantity of tobacco, sugar, salt, or a similar substance, wrapped in such a packet: he bought a packet of crisps with a blue twist of salt in them
• a curled piece of lemon peel used to flavour a drink: she drank vodka and tonic with a twist of lemon

• 3a distorted shape: he had a cruel twist to his mouth
• an unusual feature of a person’s personality, typically an unhealthy one: her lack of considerateness is a personality twist which could bring her problems
• British informal a swindle.

• 4a point at which something turns or bends: the car negotiated the twists and turns of the mountain road
• an unexpected development of events: it was soon time for the next twist of fate in his extraordinary career
• a new treatment or outlook; a variation: she takes conventional subjects and gives them a twist

• 5 [mass noun] a fine strong thread consisting of twisted strands of cotton or silk.

• 6British a drink consisting of two ingredients mixed together.

• 7a carpet with a tightly curled pile.