twist

n 1: an unforeseen development; "events suddenly took an awkward

turn" [syn: {turn}, {turn of events}]

2: an interpretation of a text or action; "they put an

unsympathetic construction on his conduct" [syn: {construction}]

3: any clever (deceptive) maneuver; "he would stoop to any

device to win a point" [syn: {device}, {gimmick}]

4: the act of rotating rapidly; "he gave the crank a spin"; "it

broke off after much twisting" [syn: {spin}, {twirl}, {twisting},

{whirl}]

5: a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; "the wrench to his

knee occurred as he fell"; "he was sidelined with a

hamstring pull" [syn: {wrench}, {pull}]

6: a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is

pulled tight [syn: {kink}, {twirl}]

7: a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind resulting when the

current of a fluid doubles back on itself [syn: {eddy}]

8: a jerky pulling movement [syn: {wrench}]

9: a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair [syn: {braid},

{plait}, {tress}]

10: the act of winding or twisting; "he put the key in the old

clock and gave it a good wind" [syn: {wind}, {winding}]

11: turning or twisting around (in place); "with a quick twist

of his head he surveyed the room" [syn: {turn}]

v 1: to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (esp. when

struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort." "The

child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace."

[syn: {writhe}, {wrestle}, {wriggle}, {worm}, {squirm}]

2: cause to assume a crooked or angular form; "bend the rod"

[syn: {bend}, {deform}] [ant: {unbend}]

3: turn in the opposite direction; "twist a wire"

4: form into a spiral shape; "The cord is all twisted" [syn: {distort}]

[ant: {untwist}]

5: form into twists; "Twist the bacon around the sausage"

6: do the twist

7: twist or pull violently or suddenly, esp. so as to remove

(something) from that to which it is attached; "wrench a

window off its hinges"; "wrench oneself free from

somebody's grip"; also metaphorically: "a deep sigh was

wrenched from his chest" [syn: {wrench}]

8: change the meaning of [syn: {twist around}, {pervert}, {convolute},

{sophisticate}]

9: twist suddenly so as to sprain; "wrench one's ankle" [syn: {sprain},

{wrench}, {turn}, {wrick}, {rick}]