Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense twists, present participle twisting, past tense, past participle twisted
1. verb
If you twist something, you turn it to make a spiral shape, for example by turning the two endsof it in opposite directions.
Her hands began to twist the handles of the bag she carried. [VERB noun]
Twist the string carefully around the second stem with the other hand. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
She twisted her hair into a bun and pinned it at the back of her head. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: coil, curl, wind, plait More Synonyms of twist
2. verb
If you twist something, especially a part of your body, or if it twists, it moves into an unusual, uncomfortable, or bent position, for example because of being hit or pushed, or because you are upset.
He twisted her arms behind her back and clipped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists. [VERB noun preposition]
Sophia's face twisted in pain. [VERB]
Her hands twisted in her lap. [VERB]
The body was twisted, its legs at an awkward angle. [VERB-ed]
The car was left a mess of twisted metal. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: distort, screw up, contort, mangle More Synonyms of twist
3. verb
If you twist part of your body such as your head or your shoulders, you turn that part while keeping the rest of your body still.
She twisted her head sideways and looked towards the door. [VERB noun adverb]
Susan twisted round in her seat until she could see Graham and Sabrina behind her. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Holding your arms straight out in front of you, twist to the right and left. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: turn (round), rotate, swivel (round), pivot More Synonyms of twist
4. verb
If you twist a part of your body such as your ankle or wrist, you injure it by turning it too sharply, or in an unusual direction.
He fell and twisted his ankle. [VERB noun]
Rupert is out of today's session with a twisted knee. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: sprain, turn, rick, wrench More Synonyms of twist
5. verb
If you twist something, you turn it so that it moves around in a circular direction.
She was staring down at her hands, twisting the ring on her finger. [VERB noun]
She twisted the handle and opened the door. [VERB noun]
Reaching up to a cupboard he takes out a jar and twists the lid off. [VERB noun with adverb]
Twist is also a noun.
The bag is resealed with a simple twist of the valve. [+ of]
6. verb
If a road or river twists, it has a lot of sudden changes of direction in it.
The roads twist round hairpin bends. [VERB preposition]
The lane twists and turns between pleasant but unspectacular cottages. [VERB]
Synonyms: wind, turn, bend, curve More Synonyms of twist
Twist is also a noun.
The train maintains a constant speed through the twists and turns of track. [+ of]
7. verb
If you say that someone has twisted something that you have said, you disapprove of them because they have repeated it in a way that changes its meaning, in order to harm you or benefit themselves.
[disapproval]
It's a shame the way that the media can twist your words and misrepresent you. [VERB noun]
Even remarks that were quite innocent could be twisted to produce an unintended effect. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: misrepresent, distort, misquote, alter More Synonyms of twist
8. countable noun
A twist in something is an unexpected and significant development.
...the twists and turns of economic policy.
The battle of the sexes also took a new twist.
The letter was the latest twist in the long-running fight.
As so often happens, this little story has a twist in the tail.
Synonyms: development, emphasis, variation, slant More Synonyms of twist
9. countable noun
A twist is the shape that something has when it has been twisted.
...bunches of violets in twists of paper. [+ of]
A thin twist of smoke curled from the cottage's single chimney.
10. singular noun [theNOUN]
The twist is a dance that was popular in the 1960's, in which you twist your body and moveyour hips in an energetic way.
11.
See twist of fate
12. See also twisted
13. to twist someone's arm
14. to get your knickers in a twist
15. to twist the knife
More Synonyms of twist
twist in British English
(twɪst)
verb
1.
to cause (one end or part) to turn or (of one end or part) to turn in the oppositedirection from another; coil or spin
2.
to distort or be distorted; change in shape
3.
to wind or cause to wind; twine, coil, or intertwine
to twist flowers into a wreath
4.
to force or be forced out of the natural form or position
to twist one's ankle
5. (usually passive)
to change or cause to change for the worse in character, meaning, etc; pervert
his ideas are twisted
she twisted the statement
6.
to revolve or cause to revolve; rotate
7. (transitive)
to wrench with a turning action
to twist something from someone's grasp
8. (intransitive)
to follow a winding course
9. (intransitive)
to squirm, as with pain
10. (intransitive)
to dance the twist
11. (transitive) British informal
to cheat; swindle
12. twist someone's arm
noun
13.
the act or an instance of twisting
14.
something formed by or as if by twisting
a twist of hair
15.
a decisive change of direction, aim, meaning, or character
16.
(in a novel, play, etc) an unexpected event, revelation, or other development
17.
a bend
a twist in the road
18.
a distortion of the original or natural shape or form
19.
a jerky pull, wrench, or turn
20.
a strange personal characteristic, esp a bad one
21.
a confused mess, tangle, or knot made by twisting
22.
a twisted thread used in sewing where extra strength is needed
23.
(in weaving) a specified direction of twisting the yarn
24. the twist
25.
a bread loaf or roll made of one or more pieces of twisted dough
26.
a thin sliver of peel from a lemon, lime, etc, twisted and added to a drink
27.
a.
a cigar made by twisting three cigars around one another
b.
chewing tobacco made in the form of a roll by twisting the leaves together
28. physics
torsional deformation or shear stress or strain
29. sport, mainly US and Canadian
spin given to a ball in various games, esp baseball
30.
the extent to which the grooves in the bore of a rifled firearm are spiralled
31. round the twist
Derived forms
twistable (ˈtwistable)
adjective
twistability (ˌtwistaˈbility)
noun
twisted (ˈtwisted)
adjective
twisting (ˈtwisting)
adjective
twisty (ˈtwisty)
adjective
Word origin
Old English; related to German dialect Zwist a quarrel, Dutch twisten to quarrel
twist in American English
(twɪst)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to wind (two or more threads or strands) around one another, as by spinning
b.
to wind two or more threads or strands of (cotton, silk, etc.) around one another so as to produce thread or cord
c.
to produce (thread, cord, etc.) in this way
2.
to wreathe; twine
3.
to wind or coil (thread, rope, etc.) around something
4.
to encircle with a coil of
5.
to entwine or interweave in something else
6.
to make (one's or its way) by turning one way and then another
7.
to give spiral shape to by turning the ends in opposite directions
8.
a.
to subject to torsion
b.
to put out of shape in this manner; wrench; sprain
to twist one's ankle
9.
a.
to contort or distort (the face, etc.)
b.
to cause to be malformed
fingers twisted with arthritis
10.
to cause to become confused or mentally or emotionally disturbed
11.
to distort or pervert the meaning of
12.
to cause to turn around or rotate
13.
to break off by turning the end
often with off
verb intransitive
14.
to undergo twisting and thus take on a spiral or coiled form
the wire twists easily
15.
to spiral, coil, twine, etc. (around or about something)
16.
to revolve or rotate
17.
to turn to one side; change direction
18.
to turn one way and then another, as a path; wind; meander
19.
to squirm; writhe
20.
to move in a curved path, as a ball given a spinning motion
21. US
to dance the twist
noun
22.
the number of turns given to a specified length of fiber, thread, cord, etc. along its axis
23.
a strong, closely twisted silk thread used for making buttonholes, etc.
24. US
tobacco leaves twisted into the shape of a roll
25.
a loaf of bread or a roll made of one or more twisted pieces of dough
26.
a knot, etc. made by twisting
27.
a sliver of peel from a lemon, lime, etc. twisted and added to a drink for flavor
28.
rotation; spin, turn, twirl, etc.
29.
a spin given to a ball in throwing or striking it
30.
spiral movement along and around an axis
31.
a.
the condition of being twisted in a spiral; torsional stress
b.
the degree of this; angle of torsion
32.
a contortion, as of the face
33.
a wrench or sprain
34.
a turning aside; turn; bend
35.
a place at which something twists or turns
a twist in the road
36.
a personal tendency, esp. an eccentric one; quirk
37.
distortion or perversion, as of meaning
38.
an unexpected direction given to or taken by a situation
39.
a special or different meaning, method, or slant
a new twist to an old story
40. US
a rock-and-roll dance characterized by movement of the arms and hips while standing in one place
41. Slang
a girl or woman
SIMILAR WORDS: curve
Word origin
ME twisten < OE -twist, a rope (in mæst-twist, rope to stay a mast), akin to twain, twine, ON tvistra, to separate, Ger zwist, a quarrel < IE *duis-, apart < base *dwōu-, two
More idioms containing
twist
twist someone around your little finger
twist the knife
get your knickers in a twist
twist someone's arm
round the twist
Examples of 'twist' in a sentence
twist
Stir and serve with a twist of lemon or orange.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pudding uses a classic brown butter and has an unusual twist in the form of bay leaves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can reduce the neck twist by raising one side of your body with a pillow.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The twists and turns mean this drama series continues to be both slightly strange and slightly thrilling.
The Sun (2016)
She leads us down another narrow path twisting deeper into the woods.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is a further twist to the story.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That cupboard is our history, not a place for a dirty little plot twist.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I'll take twisted or wrenched at a push.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The result is a hilarious tale which often twists and turns like no other.
The Sun (2015)
His right arm was twisted back on itself.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There may yet be another twist to the story.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What adds an unusual twist to your marriage plans?
The Sun (2014)
Top up with champagne and garnish with a twist of lemon.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They have the strange ability to twist their heads right round.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The best way of not twisting your ankle is to stick to the roads.
The Sun (2008)
It is easy to twist an ankle.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
Twist your body so that your right elbow is pointed to your left knee.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It could play a protective role as we twist or change direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Now twist the strands together like a corkscrew to form tight barley twists.
The Sun (2014)
Yet here is the twist to the story.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There was a little twist in my gut.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The songs go through endless changes and twists.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Twist into corkscrew shapes and lay on non-stick baking parchment in a roasting tin.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Rarely have we seen any jockey ride this rolling, twisting racetrack with such confidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He brought back more memories when he insisted he did not need an arm twisted to move to Scotland.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
twist
British English: twist /twɪst/ VERB
If you twist something, you turn it to make a spiral shape, for example by turning the two ends of it in opposite directions.
Her hands began to twist the handles of the bag.
American English: twist
Arabic: يَلْوي
Brazilian Portuguese: torcer
Chinese: 扭曲
Croatian: uvrnuti
Czech: kroutit
Danish: sno
Dutch: samendraaien
European Spanish: retorcer
Finnish: kieputtaa
French: vriller
German: drehen
Greek: συστρέφω
Italian: torcere
Japanese: ねじる
Korean: ...을 비틀다
Norwegian: vri
Polish: przekręcić
European Portuguese: torcer
Romanian: a împleti
Russian: крутить
Latin American Spanish: retorcer
Swedish: vrida
Thai: บิดเป็นเกลียว
Turkish: bükmek
Ukrainian: крутити
Vietnamese: xoắn
All related terms of 'twist'
the twist
a dance popular in the 1960s, in which couples vigorously twist the hips in time to rhythmic music
twist-tie
a short, slender wire covered as with paper or plastic , twisted to tie closed a plastic bag or other wrapper
full twist
a front or back dive made by a complete rotation of the body on its vertical axis
half twist
a dive made by a half rotation of the body on its long axis
twist drill
a drill bit having two helical grooves running from the point along the shank to clear swarf and cuttings
twist grip
a handlebar control in the form of a ratchet-controlled rotating grip , used on some bicycles and motorcycles as a gear-change control and on motorcycles as an accelerator
French twist
a woman's hairstyle in which the hair is pulled back and twisted into a vertical coil running down the back of the head
American twist
a service in which the ball is spun so as to bounce high and to the left of the receiver
twist of fate
If something happens by a twist of fate , it happens by chance , and it is strange , interesting, or unfortunate in some way.
round the twist
crazy
twist the knife
to deliberately do or say things which make a situation even worse for someone who is already upset or experiencing problems
twist someone's arm
to try hard to persuade someone to do something
twist the lion's tail
to tax the patience of or provoke a person, group, nation , or government, esp. that of Great Britain
to twist someone's arm
If you twist someone's arm , you persuade them to do something.
get one's knickers in a twist
to become agitated , flustered , or upset
get your knickers in a twist
to become extremely upset or worried about something
twist around one's little finger
to have easy and complete control or influence over
twist the knife in sb's wound
If you twist the knife in someone's wound , you do or say something to make an unpleasant situation they are in even more unpleasant.
to get your knickers in a twist
If someone is getting their knickers in a twist about something, they are getting annoyed or upset about it without good reason.
twist someone around your little finger
to make someone do anything you want them to
to twist the knife twist the knife in sb's wound/turn the knife in sb's wound
If you twist the knife or if you turn the knife in someone's wound , you do or say something to make an unpleasant situation they are in even more unpleasant.
Chinese translation of 'twist'
twist
(twɪst)
n(c)
(= action) 拧(擰) (nǐng)
(in road, track etc) 弯(彎)曲处(處) (wānqūchù) (个(個), gè)
(in coil, flex etc) 螺旋状(狀) (luóxuánzhuàng)
(in story) 转(轉)变(變) (zhuǎnbiàn)
vt
(= turn) 扭 (niǔ)
(turn the ends of) 使成螺旋状(狀) (shǐ chéng luóxuánzhuàng)
(= injure)[ankle]扭伤(傷) (niǔshāng)
[sb's arm, hand etc]扭 (niǔ)
(= turn)[object]转(轉)动 (zhuàndòng)
(fig)[meaning, words]曲解 (qūjiě)
vi
[road, river]盘(盤)旋 (pánxuán)
[arm, leg etc]扭曲 (niǔqū)
1 (verb)
Definition
to turn one end or part while the other end or parts remain still or turn in the opposite direction
She twisted her hair into a bun.
Synonyms
coil
I turned off the water and began to coil the hose.
curl
Smoke was curling up the chimney.
wind
She wound the sash round her waist.
plait
wrap
She wrapped a handkerchief round her bleeding hand.
screw
Screw down the lid fairly tightly.
twirl
She twirled an empty glass in her fingers.
2 (verb)
Definition
to wind or twine
The fibres are twisted together during spinning.
Synonyms
intertwine
Trees and creepers intertwined, blocking our way.
wind
weave
She then weaves the fibres together to make the traditional Awatum basket.
braid
She had almost finished braiding Sita's hair.
interweave
The programme successfully interweaves words and pictures.
plait
entwine
I reached over and entwined our fingers.
twine
They twined their fingers together.
wreathe
The temple's huge columns were wreathed in laurels.
interlace
3 (verb)
Definition
to revolve or rotate
Hold your arms straight out and twist to the right and left.
Synonyms
turn (round)
rotate
The earth rotates round the sun.
swivel (round)
pivot
The boat pivoted on its central axis.
spin (round)
revolve
The entire circle revolved slowly.
skew (round)
4 (verb)
Definition
to distort or be distorted
The car was left a mess of twisted metal.
Synonyms
distort
Make sure the image isn't distorted by lumps and bumps.
screw up
contort
His face contorts as he screams out the lyrics.
mangle
After being crushed, the car was mangled beyond all recognition.
mangulate (Australian, slang)
Opposites
straighten
,
untwist
5 (verb)
Definition
to force or be forced out of the natural form or position
He fell and twisted his ankle.
Synonyms
sprain
He fell and sprained his ankle.
turn
I had to come off because I turned my ankle in the first half.
rick
wrench
He had wrenched his ankle badly in the fall.
6 (verb)
Definition
to follow a winding course
The road twists and turns between pleasant little cottages.
Synonyms
wind
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
turn
the corner where our street turns into the main road
bend
The road bent slightly to the right.
curve
The track curved away below him.
snake
The road snaked through the forested mountains.
weave
The cyclists wove in and out of the traffic.
worm
loop
The helicopter looped west, making for the hills.
swerve
Drivers swerved to avoid the debris.
meander
The river meandered in lazy curves.
zigzag
corkscrew
Opposites
straighten
,
unravel
,
unwind
,
unroll
,
uncoil
,
untwist
7 (verb)
Definition
to change the meaning of
It's a shame the way the media can twist your words.
Synonyms
misrepresent
The extent of the current strike is being misrepresented.
distort
The media distorts reality.
misquote
Her words were misquoted.
alter
Little had altered in the village.
change
We are trying to detect and understand how the climate changes.
pervert
attempting to pervert the course of justice
warp
Their minds have been warped by their experiences.
falsify
The charges against him include fraud, bribery, and falsifying business records.
garble
8 (verb)
He tried to twist out of my grasp.
Synonyms
squirm
He gave a feeble shrug and tried to squirm free.
wriggle
The audience were fidgeting and wriggling in their seats.
writhe
He was writhing on the floor in agony.
9 (verb)
Definition
to wrench with a turning action
She sat there twisting her handkerchief for a while.
Synonyms
wring
He hoped to put pressure on the British and wring concessions from them.
squeeze
He squeezed her arm reassuringly.
knead
Lightly knead the mixture on a floured surface.
mangle
mangulate (Australian, slang)
1 (noun)
Definition
an unexpected development in a story, play, or film
This little story has a twist in its tail.
Synonyms
surprise
It is perhaps no surprise to see her attempting a comeback.
change
turn (informal)
It gave me quite a turn.
development
There has been a significant development in the case.
revelation
reveal
2 (noun)
Definition
a decisive change of direction, aim, meaning, or character
The political debate took on a new twist.
Synonyms
development
emphasis
variation
slant
They give a slant to every single news item that's put on the air.
3 (noun)
Definition
a jerky pull, wrench, or turn
The bag is resealed with a simple twist of the valve.
Synonyms
wind
turn
The rear sprocket will turn only twice for one turn of the pedals.
spin
a spin of the roulette wheel
swivel
a slight swivel of the hips
twirl
with a twirl of his silver-handled cane
4 (noun)
Definition
something formed by or as if by twisting
the bare bulb hanging from a twist of flex
Synonyms
coil
Tess slung the coil of rope over her shoulder.
roll
curl
A thick curl of smoke rose from the rusty stove.
hank
He twisted up the hank of rope.
twine
5 (noun)
Definition
a bend
the twists and turns of the existing track
Synonyms
curve
a curve in the road
turn
There was a hairpin turn in the road.
bend
The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
loop
She reached for a loop of garden hose.
arc
The 71 offices are spread out in an arc around London.
meander
The outer bank of a meander in the river.
kink
zigzag
convolution
the size, shape and convolutions of the human brain
dog-leg
undulation
6 (noun)
If only she could alter this personality twist.
Synonyms
trait
Creativity is a human trait.
fault
His manners always made her blind to his faults.
defect
The report pointed out the defects in the present system.
peculiarity
He had many little peculiarities.
bent
characteristic
Genes determine the characteristics of every living thing.
flaw
The only flaw in his character is a short temper.
deviation
quirk
the quirks and foibles of people in everyday situations
eccentricity
We all have our little eccentricities.
oddity
the oddities of the Welsh legal system
aberration
The incident was not just an aberration, not just a single incident.
imperfection
He concedes that there are imperfections in the socialist system.
kink
What kink did he have in his character?
foible
human foibles and weaknesses
idiosyncrasy
One of his idiosyncrasies was to wear orange gloves.
proclivity (formal)
Los Angeles's unique proclivity for experimental arty endeavour
crotchet
7 (noun)
Definition
a distortion of the original shape or form
A twist of the ankle denied him a place on the substitutes' bench.
Synonyms
sprain
turn
pull
The tooth must be removed with a firm, straight pull.
jerk
She gave the dog's lead a jerk.
wrench
The rope stopped his fall with a wrench that hurt his ribs.
8 (noun)
Synonyms
tangle
a tangle of wires
mess
Linda can't stand mess.
confusion
knot
mix-up
a mix-up over travel arrangements
snarl
a snarl of logs and branches
kink
a tiny black kitten with tufted ears and a kink in her tail
ravel
entanglement
trying to do his job without the usual bureaucratic entanglements
idiom
See round the twist
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aberration
Definition
a sudden change from what is normal, accurate, or correct
The incident was not just an aberration, not just a single incident.
Synonyms
anomaly,
exception,
defect,
abnormality,
inconsistency,
deviation,
quirk,
peculiarity,
divergence,
departure,
irregularity,
incongruity,
aberrancy
in the sense of alter
Definition
to make or become different
Little had altered in the village.
Synonyms
change,
turn,
vary,
transform,
adjust,
adapt,
metamorphose
in the sense of arc
Definition
something curved in shape
The 71 offices are spread out in an arc around London.
Synonyms
curve,
bend,
bow,
arch,
crescent,
half-moon
Synonyms of 'twist'
twist
Explore 'twist' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bend
Definition
to turn from a particular direction
The road bent slightly to the right.
Synonyms
wind,
turn,
twist,
arch,
arc,
swerve
in the sense of bend
Definition
a curved part
The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
Synonyms
curve,
turn,
corner,
hook,
twist,
angle,
bow,
loop,
arc,
zigzag,
camber
in the sense of braid
Definition
to interweave (hair, thread, etc.)
She had almost finished braiding Sita's hair.
Synonyms
interweave,
weave,
lace,
intertwine,
plait,
entwine,
twine,
ravel,
interlace
in the sense of change
Definition
to make or become different
We are trying to detect and understand how the climate changes.
Synonyms
shift,
vary,
transform,
alter,
modify,
diversify,
fluctuate,
mutate,
metamorphose,
transmute
in the sense of characteristic
Definition
a distinguishing feature or quality
Genes determine the characteristics of every living thing.
Synonyms
feature,
mark,
quality,
property,
attribute,
faculty,
trait,
quirk,
peculiarity,
idiosyncrasy
in the sense of contort
Definition
to twist or bend out of shape
His face contorts as he screams out the lyrics.
Synonyms
twist,
knot,
distort,
warp,
deform,
gnarl,
convolute,
misshape
in the sense of convolution
Definition
an intricate or confused matter or condition
the size, shape and convolutions of the human brain
Synonyms
twist,
complexity,
intricacy,
contortion,
winding,
curl,
loop,
spiral,
coil,
coiling,
helix,
undulation,
curlicue,
involution,
sinuosity,
tortuousness,
sinuousness
in the sense of curl
Definition
to twist into a spiral or curve
Smoke was curling up the chimney.
Synonyms
twirl,
turn,
bend,
twist,
curve,
loop,
spiral,
coil,
meander,
writhe,
corkscrew,
wreathe,
convolute
in the sense of curl
Definition
a curved or spiral shape
A thick curl of smoke rose from the rusty stove.
Synonyms
twist,
spiral,
coil,
kink,
whorl,
curlicue
in the sense of defect
Definition
an imperfection or blemish
The report pointed out the defects in the present system.
Synonyms
deficiency,
want,
failing,
lack,
mistake,
fault,
error,
absence,
weakness,
flaw,
shortcoming,
inadequacy,
imperfection,
frailty,
foible
Additional synonyms
in the sense of eccentricity
Definition
an unconventional or odd habit or act
We all have our little eccentricities.
Synonyms
foible,
anomaly,
abnormality,
quirk,
oddity,
aberration,
peculiarity,
idiosyncrasy
in the sense of entanglement
trying to do his job without the usual bureaucratic entanglements
Synonyms
difficulty,
mess,
confusion,
complication,
mix-up,
muddle,
predicament,
imbroglio
in the sense of entwine
Definition
to twist together or round something else
I reached over and entwined our fingers.
Synonyms
twist,
surround,
embrace,
weave,
knit,
braid,
encircle,
wind,
intertwine,
interweave,
plait,
twine,
ravel,
interlace,
entwist (archaic)
in the sense of falsify
Definition
to make a report or evidence false by alteration in order to deceive
The charges against him include fraud, bribery, and falsifying business records.
Synonyms
alter,
forge,
fake,
tamper with,
doctor,
cook (slang),
distort,
pervert,
belie,
counterfeit,
misrepresent,
garble,
misstate
in the sense of fault
Definition
a weakness in a person's character
His manners always made her blind to his faults.
Synonyms
failing,
lack,
weakness,
defect,
deficiency,
flaw,
drawback,
shortcoming,
snag,
blemish,
imperfection,
Achilles heel,
weak point,
infirmity,
demerit
in the sense of flaw
Definition
an imperfection or blemish
The only flaw in his character is a short temper.
Synonyms
weakness,
failing,
defect,
weak spot,
spot,
fault,
scar,
blemish,
imperfection,
speck,
disfigurement,
chink in your armour
in the sense of foible
Definition
a slight peculiarity or minor weakness
human foibles and weaknesses
Synonyms
idiosyncrasy,
failing,
fault,
weakness,
defect,
quirk,
imperfection,
peculiarity,
weak point,
infirmity
in the sense of hank
Definition
a loop or coil, esp. of yarn
He twisted up the hank of rope.
Synonyms
coil,
roll,
length,
bunch,
piece,
loop,
clump,
skein
in the sense of idiosyncrasy
Definition
a personal peculiarity of mind, habit, or behaviour
One of his idiosyncrasies was to wear orange gloves.
Synonyms
peculiarity,
habit,
characteristic,
foible,
quirk,
eccentricity,
oddity,
mannerism,
affectation,
trick,
singularity,
personal trait
in the sense of imperfection
Definition
a fault or defect
He concedes that there are imperfections in the socialist system.
Synonyms
fault,
failing,
weakness,
defect,
deficiency,
flaw,
shortcoming,
inadequacy,
frailty,
foible,
weak point
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mess
Definition
a state of untidiness or confusion, esp. a dirty or unpleasant one
Linda can't stand mess.
Synonyms
untidiness,
disorder,
confusion,
chaos,
turmoil,
litter,
clutter,
disarray,
jumble,
disorganization,
grot (slang),
dirtiness
in the sense of misquote
Definition
to quote inaccurately
Her words were misquoted.
Synonyms
misrepresent,
twist,
distort,
pervert,
muddle,
mangle,
falsify,
garble,
misreport,
misstate,
quote or take out of context
in the sense of mix-up
Definition
a confused condition or situation
a mix-up over travel arrangements
Synonyms
confusion,
mistake,
misunderstanding,
mess,
tangle,
muddle,
jumble,
fankle (Scottish)
in the sense of oddity
Definition
a peculiar characteristic
the oddities of the Welsh legal system
Synonyms
irregularity,
phenomenon,
anomaly,
freak,
abnormality,
rarity,
quirk,
eccentricity,
kink,
peculiarity,
idiosyncrasy,
singularity,
unorthodoxy,
unconventionality
in the sense of peculiarity
Definition
a strange or unusual habit
He had many little peculiarities.
Synonyms
quirk,
caprice,
mannerism,
whimsy,
foible,
idiosyncrasy,
odd trait
in the sense of pervert
Definition
to interpret wrongly or badly
attempting to pervert the course of justice
Synonyms
distort,
abuse,
twist,
misuse,
warp,
misinterpret,
misrepresent,
falsify,
misconstrue
in the sense of pivot
Definition
to turn on or provide with a pivot
The boat pivoted on its central axis.
Synonyms
turn,
spin,
revolve,
rotate,
swivel,
twirl
in the sense of proclivity
Definition
a tendency or inclination
Los Angeles's unique proclivity for experimental arty endeavour
Synonyms
tendency,
liking,
leaning,
inclination,
bent,
weakness,
bias,
disposition,
penchant,
propensity,
kink,
predisposition,
predilection,
partiality,
proneness,
liableness
in the sense of pull
Definition
the act of pulling
The tooth must be removed with a firm, straight pull.
Synonyms
tug,
jerk,
yank,
twitch,
heave
in the sense of quirk
Definition
a peculiarity of character
the quirks and foibles of people in everyday situations
Synonyms
peculiarity,
eccentricity,
mannerism,
foible,
idiosyncrasy,
habit,
fancy,
characteristic,
trait,
whim,
oddity,
caprice,
fetish,
aberration,
kink,
vagary,
singularity,
idée fixe
Additional synonyms
in the sense of turn
I had to come off because I turned my ankle in the first half.
Synonyms
sprain,
hurt,
injure,
strain,
twist,
rick,
wrench
in the sense of turn
Definition
(of a road, river, etc.) to have a bend or curve in it
the corner where our street turns into the main road
Synonyms
bend,
curve,
meander,
wind,
twist,
snake,
loop,
zigzag
in the sense of turn
Definition
a shock or surprise
It gave me quite a turn.
Synonyms
shock,
start,
surprise,
scare,
jolt,
fright
in the sense of turn
The rear sprocket will turn only twice for one turn of the pedals.
Synonyms
rotation,
turning,
cycle,
circle,
revolution,
spin,
twist,
reversal,
whirl,
swivel,
pivot,
gyration
in the sense of turn
There was a hairpin turn in the road.
Synonyms
bend,
corner,
twist,
zigzag,
dog-leg
in the sense of turn
Definition
a twist, bend, or distortion in shape
Synonyms
twist,
bend,
warp,
distortion
in the sense of twine
Definition
to twist or wind together
They twined their fingers together.
Synonyms
twist together,
weave,
knit,
braid,
splice,
interweave,
plait,
entwine,
interlace,
twist
in the sense of twirl
Definition
to twist, wind, or twiddle, often idly
She twirled an empty glass in her fingers.
Synonyms
twiddle,
turn,
rotate,
wind,
spin,
twist,
revolve,
whirl
in the sense of twirl
Definition
a whirl or twist
with a twirl of his silver-handled cane
Synonyms
turn,
spin,
rotation,
whirl,
wheel,
revolution,
twist,
pirouette,
gyration
in the sense of warp
Definition
to distort or influence in a negative way
Their minds have been warped by their experiences.
Synonyms
pervert,
twist,
corrupt,
degrade,
deprave,
debase,
desecrate,
debauch,
lead astray
Additional synonyms
in the sense of weave
Definition
to form (a fabric) by interlacing yarn on a loom
She then weaves the fibres together to make the traditional Awatum basket.
Synonyms
knit,
twist,
intertwine,
plait,
unite,
introduce,
blend,
incorporate,
merge,
mat,
fuse,
braid,
entwine,
intermingle,
interlace
in the sense of weave
Definition
to move from side to side while going forward
The cyclists wove in and out of the traffic.
Synonyms
zigzag,
wind,
move in and out,
crisscross,
weave your way
in the sense of wrap
Definition
to fold, wind, or coil
She wrapped a handkerchief round her bleeding hand.
Synonyms
bind,
wind,
fold,
swathe
in the sense of wreathe
The temple's huge columns were wreathed in laurels.
Synonyms
festoon,
wind,
crown,
wrap,
twist,
coil,
adorn,
intertwine,
interweave,
entwine,
twine,
engarland
in the sense of wrench
Definition
to injure (a limb or joint) by a sudden twist
He had wrenched his ankle badly in the fall.
Synonyms
sprain,
strain,
rick,
distort
in the sense of wrench
Definition
a violent twist or pull
The rope stopped his fall with a wrench that hurt his ribs.
Synonyms
twist,
pull,
rip,
tug,
jerk,
yank
in the sense of wriggle
Definition
to twist and turn with quick movements
The audience were fidgeting and wriggling in their seats.