twist
Spiral or surprise
Twist is distantly related to two, and that connection forms its core meaning: wind one thing around another.
But you can also twist a single thing by applying rotational force.
A twist is an instance of twisting: Give the knob a slight twist.
In abstract terms, a plot twist or an ironic twist is an unexpected turn of events.
A twist of a citrus fruit is a thin slice of it.
In the 1960s, there was a dance called The Twist, part of the rock ‘n’ roll movement.
Curve winding around center
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- curlSpiral or loop form
- loopCurve closing on itself
- corkscrewTool for opening bottles
winding · twirl · swirl · ringlet · braid · plait · whorl · convolution
Braided ceremonial Jewish bread
- pretzelKnotted salted bread
- crullerTwisted fried dough ring
- braidInterwoven strand pattern
- doughFlour-liquid mixture for baking
pastry · baguette · roll · knot · bake · shaping · loaf · croissant
Bend from true form
- bendCurve or flex
- contortTwist unnaturally
- wrenchTool for turning fasteners
- sprainLigament stretch injury
wrangle · misshape · deform · skew · gnarl · mangle · buckle · crumple
Not anticipated beforehand
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- revealMake something visible
- turnaboutComplete change of direction
- shockingCausing intense surprise
ending · cliffhanger · whodunit · red herring · foreshadowing · irony · reversal · climax
Rotational force measurement
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- rotationalConcerning circular movement
- shearLateral sliding force
tension · flexure · mechanics · elasticity · rigidity · stiffness · deformation · load
Keen enjoyment or peel
- lemonAcidic yellow citrus
- peelOuter fruit layer
- rindTough outer covering
- garnishDecorative food topping
cocktail · martini · gin · orange · lime · oils · aromatic · bartender
One thickness
- fiberPlant-based digestive aid
- strandThin fiber piece
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- rovingMoving from place to place
wool · cotton · spindle · thread · skein · tension · singles · cable
Full-body forward rotation
- flipQuick turning motion
- aerialElevated, or signal-catcher
- layoutSpatial arrangement of elements
- tuckFold into concealment
pike · rotation · dismount · tumbling · acrobatics · trampoline · diver · skateboard
spiral
Curve winding around center
corkscrew · winding · twirl · swirl · ringlet · braid · plait · whorl · convolution · gyre
challah
Braided ceremonial Jewish bread
dough · pastry · baguette · roll · knot · bake · shaping · loaf · croissant · danish
warp
Bend from true form
sprain · wrangle · misshape · deform · skew · gnarl · mangle · buckle · crumple · torture
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- revealMake something visible
- turnaboutComplete change of direction
shocking · ending · cliffhanger · whodunit · red herring · foreshadowing · irony · reversal · climax · denouement
torque
Rotational force measurement
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- rotationalConcerning circular movement
shear · tension · flexure · mechanics · elasticity · rigidity · stiffness · deformation · load · spring
zest
Keen enjoyment or peel
garnish · cocktail · martini · gin · orange · lime · oils · aromatic · bartender · mixology
ply
One thickness
roving · wool · cotton · spindle · thread · skein · tension · singles · cable · worsted
somersault
Full-body forward rotation
tuck · pike · rotation · dismount · tumbling · acrobatics · trampoline · diver · skateboard · snowboard
peppermint
Aromatic mint hybrid
hips · shimmy · go-go · mashed potato · jive · rock'n'roll · groove · gyrate · shake · nightclub
- movementwalk, move, go, run, jump
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
- movement verbsgo, walk, run, move, walked
- dancesballet, waltz, tango, salsa, hula
- divingscuba, scuba diving, dive mask, dive helmet, diving bells
- gymnasticsgymnastics, balance beam, floor exercise, handstand, parallel bars
twiststraighten
Make linear or orderly
unbend · straightness · untwist · uncurl · uncoil
twistclarify
Make something understandable
predictability · explain · explicate · illuminate · simplify
- plot twistSudden narrative redirection
- tongue twisterPhrase hard to articulate
- twist someone's armPressure into agreement
- twists and turnsFrequent direction changes
- twist of fateUnexpected reversal of fortune
- twisted ankleLigament injury from rolling
twisted, twisting, twine, twisty, untwist, twists, twister, entwine, intertwine