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
• form (something) into a particular shape by taking hold of one or both ends and turning them:she twisted her handkerchief into a knot
• 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:beets 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] 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 something that remains stationary; turn:she twisted her ring around and around on her finger
• wind around or through something:she twisted a lock of hair around her finger
• move or cause to move around each other; interlace:she twisted her hands together nervously the machine twists together strands to make a double yarn
• make (something) by interlacing or winding strands together.
• [no object] take or have a winding course:the road twisted through a dozen tiny villages

• 3 [no object] dance the twist.

• 4British informal cheat; defraud.

noun

• 1an act of turning something so that it moves in relation to something that remains stationary: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.
• the extent of twisting of a rod or other object.
• force producing twisting; torque.
• 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 licorice twist
• a curled piece of lemon peel used to flavor a drink.

• 3a distorted shape:he had a cruel twist to his mouth
• an unusual feature of a person’s personality, typically an unhealthy one.

• 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

• 5a 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.