twitter

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to make a rapid series of light, high-pitched chirping sounds, especially as a bird

   Sparrows twitter in the hedge before sunrise.

2. 2
   noun

   a rapid series of light chirps or similar high-pitched sounds

   The twitter of swallows echoed beneath the bridge.

3. 3
   verb

   to talk rapidly in a light, excited, or nervous voice

   Guests twittered excitedly about the surprise announcement.

From Middle English twiteren, probably an imitative Germanic formation that echoes a bird's repeated calls. It is cognate with Low German twitteren and German zwitschern. The human-speech sense arose by comparing light, rapid talk with birdsong.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images