twist

[[t]twɪst[/t]]

v. t.

1) to combine, as two or more strands or threads, by winding together; intertwine

2) to form by or as if by winding strands together

3) to entwine (one thing) with another

4) to wind or coil (something) about something else

5) to alter in shape, as by turning the ends in opposite directions

6) to turn sharply or wrench out of place; sprain:

twisted his ankle[/ex]

7) to pull, tear, or break off by turning forcibly

8) to contort:

twisting her face in a wry smile[/ex]

9) to distort the meaning or form of; pervert:

He accused us of twisting his comments[/ex]

10) to cause to become mentally or emotionally distorted; warp

11) to form into a coil or knot by winding, rolling, etc

12) to bend tortuously

13) to cause to move with a rotary motion, as a ball pitched in a curve

14) to turn (something) from one direction to another, as by rotating

15) to be or become intertwined

16) to wind or twine about something

17) to writhe or squirm

18) to take a spiral form or course

19) to turn so as to face in another direction

20) to turn, coil, or bend into a spiral shape

21) to change shape under forcible turning or twisting

22) to move with a progressive rotary motion, as a ball pitched in a curve

23) a deviation in direction; curve; bend; turn

24) a rotary motion or spin

25) anything formed by or as if by twisting

26) the act or process of twining strands together

27) a twisting awry or askew

28) distortion or perversion, as of meaning or form

29) an eccentric turn or bent of mind

30) spiral arrangement or form

31) spiral movement or course

32) an irregular bend; crook; kink

33) a sudden, unanticipated change of course, as of events

34) a novel treatment, method, etc

35) the changing of the shape of anything by or as if by turning the ends in opposite directions

36) the stress causing this alteration; torque

37) a twisting or torsional action, force, or stress; torsion

38) spo a full rotation of the body performed during a dive or vault

39) tex a strong, twisted silk thread used for working buttonholes and for other purposes

40) tex the direction of twisting in weaving yarn

41) coo a loaf or roll of dough twisted and baked

42) vin a strip of citrus peel used to flavor a drink

43) mad a dance characterized by strongly rhythmic turns and twists of body

•

- twist someone's arm

Etymology: 1300–50; ME: to divide, der. of twist divided object, rope (cf. OE -twist in candel-twist pair of snuffers); akin to twi- twist′a•ble, adj. twist`a•bil′i•ty, n.