twist

Noun

• turning or twisting around (in place)
  • with a quick twist of his head he surveyed the room
    

• the act of winding or twisting
  • he put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind
    

• social dancing in which couples vigorously twist their hips and arms in time to the music; was popular in the 1960s
  • they liked to dance the twist
    

• a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

• a jerky pulling movement

• a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind resulting when the current of a fluid doubles back on itself

• a circular segment of a curve
  • a bend in the road
    
  • a crook in the path
    

• a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight

• a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments
  • the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell
    
  • he was sidelined with a hamstring pull
    

• the act of rotating rapidly
  • he gave the crank a spin
    
  • it broke off after much twisting
    

• any clever maneuver
  • he would stoop to any device to win a point
    
  • it was a great sales gimmick
    
  • a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen
    

• an interpretation of a text or action
  • they put an unsympathetic construction on his conduct
    

• an unforeseen development
  • events suddenly took an awkward turn
    

Verb

• twist suddenly so as to sprain
  • wrench one's ankle
    
  • The wrestler twisted his shoulder
    
  • the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell
    
  • I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days
    

• practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive
  • Don't twist my words
    

• twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
  • wrench a window off its hinges
    
  • wrench oneself free from somebody's grip
    
  • a deep sigh was wrenched from his chest
    

• do the twist

• extend in curves and turns
  • The road winds around the lake
    
  • the path twisted through the forest
    

• form into twists
  • Twist the strips of dough
    

• form into a spiral shape
  • The cord is all twisted
    

• turn in the opposite direction
  • twist one's head
    

• cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form
  • bend the rod
    
  • twist the dough into a braid
    
  • the strong man could turn an iron bar
    

• to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
  • The prisoner writhed in discomfort
    
  • The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  turn , wind , winding , braid , plait , tress , wrench , eddy , bend , crook , kink , twirl , pull , spin , twisting , whirl , device , gimmick , construction , turn of events , sprain , wrick , rick , twist around , pervert , convolute , sophisticate , curve , twine , distort , flex , deform , writhe , wrestle , wriggle ,
• Antonyms: 
  untwist , unbend