Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Twist
Twist
(twĭst)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Twisted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Twisting
.] 1.
To contort; to writhe; to complicate; to crook spirally; to convolve.
Twist
it into a serpentine form. Pope.
2.
Hence, to turn from the true form or meaning; to pervert;
as, to
. twist
a passage cited from an author3.
To distort, as a solid body, by turning one part relatively to another about an axis passing through both; to subject to torsion;
as, to
. twist
a shaft4.
To wreathe; to wind; to encircle; to unite by intertexture of parts.
“Longing to twist bays with that ivy.” Waller.
There are pillars of smoke
twisted
about with wreaths of flame. T. Burnet.
5.
To wind into; to insinuate; – used reflexively;
as, avarice
. twists
itself into all human concerns6.
To unite by winding one thread, strand, or other flexible substance, round another; to form by convolution, or winding separate things round each other;
as, to
. twist
yarn or threadShak.
7.
Hence, to form as if by winding one part around another; to wreathe; to make up.
Was it not to this end
That thou began’st to
That thou began’st to
twist
so fine a story? Shakespeare
8.
To form into a thread from many fine filaments;
as, to
. twist
wool or cottonTwist
,Verb.
I.
1.
To be contorted; to writhe; to be distorted by torsion; to be united by winding round each other; to be or become twisted;
as, some strands will
. twist
more easily than others2.
To follow a helical or spiral course; to be in the form of a helix.
Twist
,Noun.
1.
The act of twisting; a contortion; a flexure; a convolution; a bending.
Not the least turn or
twist
in the fibers of any one animal which does not render them more proper for that particular animal's way of life than any other cast or texture. Addison.
2.
The form given in twisting.
[He] shrunk at first sight of it; he found fault with the length, the thickness, and the
twist
. Arbuthnot.
3.
That which is formed by twisting, convoluting, or uniting parts.
Specifically: –(a)
A cord, thread, or anything flexible, formed by winding strands or separate things round each other.
(b)
A kind of closely twisted, strong sewing silk, used by tailors, saddlers, and the like.
(c)
A kind of cotton yarn, of several varieties.
(d)
A roll of twisted dough, baked.
(e)
A little twisted roll of tobacco.
(f)
(Weaving)
One of the threads of a warp, – usually more tightly twisted than the filling.
(g)
(Firearms)
A material for gun barrels, consisting of iron and steel twisted and welded together;
as, Damascus
. twist
(h)
(Firearms & Ord.)
The spiral course of the rifling of a gun barrel or a cannon.
(i)
A beverage made of brandy and gin.
[Slang]
4.
A twig.
[Obs.]
Chaucer. Fairfax.
Gain twist
, or
Gaining twist
(Firearms)
, twist of which the pitch is less, and the inclination greater, at the muzzle than at the breech.
– Twist drill
, a drill the body of which is twisted like that of an auger. See Illust. of
– Drill
. Uniform twist
(Firearms)
, a twist of which the spiral course has an equal pitch throughout.
Webster 1828 Edition
Twist
TWIST
, v.t.1.
To unite by winding one thread, strand or other flexible substance round another; to form by convolution, or winding separate things round each other; as to twist yarn or thread. So we say, to double and twist.2.
To form into a thread from many fine filaments; as, to twist wool or cotton.3.
To contort; to writhe; as, to twist a thing into a serpentine form.4.
To wreathe; to wind; to encircle. --Pillars of smoke twisted about with wreaths of flame.
5.
To form; to weave; as, to twist a story.6.
To unite by intertexture of parts; as, to twist bays with ivy.7.
To unite; to enter by winding; to insinuate; as, avarice twists itself into all human concerns.8.
To pervert; as, to twist a passage in an author.9.
To turn from a straight line.TWIST
,Verb.
I.
TWIST
,Noun.
1.
A cord; a string; a single cord.2.
A contortion; a writhe.3.
A little roll of tobacco.4.
Manner of twisting.5.
A twig. [Not in use.]