move[intransitive and transitive]
to turn a part of your body around or change your position by turning:
He twisted his head slightly, and looked up at her.
She twisted round, so that she could see the dog better.
if you twist your mouth or features, you smile in an unpleasant way or look angry, disapproving etc:
His mouth twisted in a humourless smile.
to bend or turn something, such as wire, hair, or cloth, into a particular shape
twist something into something
She twisted her handkerchief into a knot.
twist something together
Twist the two ends of the wire together.
to wind something around or through an object
wind[transitive always + adverb/preposition]
twist something round/around/through etc something
She twisted a silk scarf round her neck.
Ann twisted some daisies through Katherine's thick brown hair.
to turn something in a circle using your hand
twist something off (something)
Jack twisted the cap off the bottle.
if a road, river etc twists, it changes direction in a series of curves:
The road twisted between spectacular mountains.
to change the true or intended meaning of a statement, especially in order to get some advantage for yourself:
He's always trying to twist my words and make me look bad.
to hurt your wrist etc by pulling or turning it too suddenly while you are moving:
Harriet slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle.
if a path, road, stream etc twists and turns, it has a lot of bends in it:
The river twists and turns through the green fields.
if a person or animal twists and turns, they make twisting movements
to persuade someone to do something they do not want to do:
No one twisted my arm about coming to see you.
to bend someone's arm upwards behind their back in order to hurt them:
The policeman twisted my arm behind me and arrested me.
➔ twist/wrap somebody around your little fingerat finger1 (8)
➔ twist the knife (in the wound)at knife1 (3)WORD FOCUS: change
to change something: alter, adapt, adjust, amend, modify, revise, vary
to change a system or organization: restructure, reorganize, reform
to change something completely: transform, revolutionize
to change facts or information, or change what someone has said: twist, distort, misrepresent
easily changed: flexible, adaptable
impossible to change: fixed, final, irrevocable
➔ See also change