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# twist

verb (twist, twists, twisted, twisting); noun (a twist, twists)

«twist» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To turn something round, like twisting a lid off a jar or twisting a key. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#m1)
2. To bend or wind things around each other, like twisting threads into a rope. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#m2)
3. To hurt a joint by turning it the wrong way: twist your ankle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#m3)
4. A noun for a sudden change, especially a surprising change in a story: a plot twist. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#m4)
5. A bend or curve, as in the twists and turns of a road. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#m5)
6. To wriggle your body through a narrow gap. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#m6)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and safety, you twist lids, taps and doorknobs; childproof lids need you to push and twist. A twisted ankle is a common sports injury: rest it, ice it and tell an adult. In stories, a twist is a surprise the reader did not expect. In science, a tornado twists, and DNA is a twisted ladder shape. Phrases: "twist the lid off", "twist your ankle", "a twist in the tale", "twists and turns", "twist someone's arm" (persuade them).

### Examples

- Twist the lid to open the jar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x1)
- I twisted my ankle playing netball. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x2)
- The story had a twist at the end: the ghost was the cat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x3)
- The path twists through the woods. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x4)
- Twist the two pipe cleaners together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x5)
- She twisted her hair into a bun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x6)
- The tornado twisted the trees out of the ground. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x7)
- Okay, you twisted my arm — I'll have another biscuit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x8)
- How was he to twist himself through! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/#x9)

### Note

Regular verb: twisted, twisting. "Turn" and "twist" overlap, but "twist" usually means turning with force or winding. A twisted ankle is also called a sprain. "To twist someone's words" means to change their meaning unfairly. "Twist someone's arm" is an idiom, not real arm-twisting.

## In Jewish tradition

In Deuteronomy it describes the twisted cords, tassels, that Israelites make on their garments' corners.

**Interpretation.** Tradition calls these tassels tzitzit, and wearing them reminds a person of all the commandments.

### Examples

- Thou shalt make thee twisted cords upon the four corners of thy covering, wherewith thou coverest thyself. (Torah DEU.22.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/twist/#x1)

### Note

Regular verb: twisted, twisting. "Turn" and "twist" overlap, but "twist" usually means turning with force or winding. A twisted ankle is also called a sprain. "To twist someone's words" means to change their meaning unfairly. "Twist someone's arm" is an idiom, not real arm-twisting.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «twist» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/twist/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«twist» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/twist.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «twist» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/twist/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«twist» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/twist.html) on Mova free.