twitch

¹ American  

[twich] / twɪtʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to tug or pull at with a quick, short movement; pluck.

   She twitched him by the sleeve.

2. to jerk rapidly.

   The rider twitched the reins a couple of times.

3. to move (a part of the body) with a sudden, jerking motion.

4. to pinch or pull at sharply and painfully; give a smarting pinch to; nip.

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verb (used without object)

1. to move spasmodically or convulsively; jerk; jump.

2. to give a sharp, sudden pull; tug; pluck (usually followed byat ).

   He constantly twitched at his collar.

3. to ache or hurt with a sharp, shooting pain; twinge.

   That back tooth twitches a bit.

noun

1. a quick, jerky movement of the body or of some part of it.

2. involuntary, spasmodic movement of a muscle; tic.

   He gets a twitch in his left eye when he's nervous.

3. a short, sudden pull or tug; jerk.

4. a bodily or mental twinge, as of pain, conscience, etc.; pang.

5. a loop or noose placed over the muzzle of a horse and tightened by twisting a stick or handle to which it is attached, used as a restraining device during a painful operation.

Twitch ² American  

[twich] / twɪtʃ /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a livestreaming video platform, primarily delivering video game content with audio commentary and concurrent online chat among viewers.

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twitch British  

/ twɪtʃ /

verb

1. to move or cause to move in a jerky spasmodic way

2. (tr) to pull or draw (something) with a quick jerky movement

3. (intr) to hurt with a sharp spasmodic pain

4. rare  (tr) to nip

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noun

1. a sharp jerking movement

2. a mental or physical twinge

3. a sudden muscular spasm, esp one caused by a nervous condition Compare tic

4. a loop of cord used to control a horse by drawing it tight about its upper lip

Other Word Forms

• twitcher noun
• twitching adjective
• twitchingly adverb
• untwitched adjective
• untwitching adjective

Etymology

Origin of twitch

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English twicchen (verb); akin to Old English twiccian “to pluck”; cognate with German zwicken “to pinch”

Example Sentences

"This occurs in a very rapid fashion. You can activate the macrophage and make the muscle twitch subtly almost immediately," Jankowski says.

From Science Daily

At 7 inches tall, this hare pitcher, hand painted one strand of fur at a time, is so lifelike it nearly twitches its nose.

From The Wall Street Journal

So, within our patch of common ground, all kinds of civic muscles start twitching again.

From The Wall Street Journal

Fellow soldiers, unfazed by the act, immediately spotted another man's leg twitch in the tangle of bodies.

From BBC

His face is so expressive, every twitch will reach the back row of an audience.

From BBC

Related Words

• blink
• flutter
• jerk
• jiggle
• shudder
• tremble