twist

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /twɪst/ See IPA manual

Freq #4086

Meanings

1

verb
To turn or bend something into a spiral or new shape.

She twisted the wire into a small loop.
2

verb
To turn part of the body, such as the head, around.

He twisted his head to see who was calling.
3

noun
A sudden bend or curve in a road, path, or river.

A twist in the road revealed a hidden valley below.
4

noun
An unexpected change in a story or situation.

The film's ending had a surprising twist.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with twist

twist around Phrasal verb B1

to distort someone's words or an idea in order to mislead

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to turn or bend something... distort twine

Word family

Forms twistingtwists

Derived forms arm-twisthanky-twistintertwistnontwistovertwistretwistself-twistingsupertwisttwist-boattwist-offtwistabletwister

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

twist drill
a drill bit with deep spiral grooves along its length

Noun + noun
twist around
to distort someone's words or an idea in order to mislead

Verb + adverb

Idioms (2)

See all

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English twist, from Old English *twist, in compounds (e.g. mæsttwist (“a rope; stay”), candeltwist (“a wick”)), from Proto-Germanic *twistaz, a derivative of *twi- (“two-”) (compare also twine, between, betwixt). Related to Saterland Frisian Twist (“discord”), Dutch twist (“twist; strife; discord”), German Low German Twist (“strife; discord”), German Zwist (“turmoil; strife; discord”), Swedish tvist (“quarrel; dispute”), Icelandic tvistur (“deuce”). The verb is from Middle English twisten. Compare Dutch twisten, Danish tviste (“to dispute”), Swedish tvista (“to arg…

twist Middle English *twist Old English *twistaz Proto-Germanic twisten Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# twist

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /twɪst/
**Frequency rank:** 4086

## Meanings
1. To turn or bend something into a spiral or new shape.
2. To turn part of the body, such as the head, around.
3. A sudden bend or curve in a road, path, or river.
4. An unexpected change in a story or situation.

## Examples
- She twisted the wire into a small loop.
- He twisted his head to see who was calling.
- A twist in the road revealed a hidden valley below.
- The film's ending had a surprising twist.

## Derived Forms
- arm-twist
- hanky-twist
- intertwist
- nontwist
- overtwist
- retwist
- self-twisting
- supertwist
- twist-boat
- twist-off
- twistable
- twister

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: twist
- Root: *twist
- Root: *twistaz
- Root: twisten

## Etymology
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English twist, from Old English *twist, in compounds (e.g. mæsttwist (“a rope; stay”), candeltwist (“a wick”)), from Proto-Germanic *twistaz, a derivative of *twi- (“two-”) (compare also twine, between, betwixt). Related to Saterland Frisian Twist (“discord”), Dutch twist (“twist; strife; discord”), German Low German Twist (“strife; discord”), German Zwist (“turmoil; strife; discord”), Swedish tvist (“quarrel; dispute”), Icelandic tvistur (“deuce”). The verb is from Middle English twisten. Compare Dutch twisten, Danish tviste (“to dispute”), Swedish tvista (“to arg…

## AI Etymology
Twist is from Middle English twist, from Old English *twist, in compounds (e.g. mæsttwist (“a rope; stay”), candeltwist (“a wick”)), from Proto-Germanic *twistaz, a derivative of *twi- (“two-”) (compare also twine, between, betwixt). Related to Saterland Frisian Twist (“discord”), Dutch twist (“twist; strife; discord”), German Low German Twist (“strife; discord”), German Zwist (“turmoil; strife; discord”), Swedish tvist (“quarrel; dispute”), Icelandic tvistur (“deuce”). The verb is from Middle English twisten. Derived formations include arm-twist, hanky-twist, intertwist, nontwist, overtwist, retwist, self-twisting, supertwist.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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