/'twitə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A series of short, high-pitched sounds: A rapid succession of light, chirping noises, especially those made by small birds.
- A state of nervous excitement or agitation: A condition of being flustered, excited, or in a state of tremulous agitation.
Verb:
- To make a series of light, high-pitched sounds: To utter a succession of short, tremulous notes, as a bird does.
- To talk rapidly in a nervous, trivial, or excited way: To speak quickly and with slight tremulousness, often due to excitement or anxiety.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The morning air was filled with the cheerful twitter of sparrows.
- She was in a twitter of anticipation before her job interview.
Verb:
- The birds twitter in the hedges at dawn.
- The children twittered with excitement about the upcoming trip.
Advanced Usage
"To be all of a twitter": To be in a state of nervous excitement or agitation.
- The fans were all of a twitter when the celebrity arrived.
"To twitter away": To chatter or speak continuously in a light, rapid manner.
- They twittered away about the latest gossip for hours.
Variants and Related Words
Twittery (adj): Characterized by or resembling twittering; tremulous.
- Her voice was faint and twittery with emotion.
Twittering (n/adj): The act or sound of twittering; making light chirping sounds.
- The constant twittering from the nest was soothing.
Synonyms
- Chirp (v): To make a short, sharp, high-pitched sound (like a small bird).
- Chitter (v): To twitter or chatter, often used for birds or squirrels.
- Flutter (v/n): To move with quick, light, irregular motions; can describe a state of nervous excitement.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: As a verb of sound or state, "twitter" does not commonly form standard phrasal verbs. The combinations above ("twitter away") are idiomatic verbal uses.)
Related Idioms
- "In a twitter": In a state of nervous excitement or agitation.
- The whole office was in a twitter over the surprise announcement.
Verb
- make high-pitched sounds, as of birds