twitch

[ twich ]
See synonyms for twitch on Thesaurus.com
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.

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

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

verb (used without object)
  1. to move spasmodically or convulsively; jerk; jump.

  2. to give a sharp, sudden pull; tug; pluck (usually followed by at): He constantly twitched at his collar.

  1. 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.

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

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

  3. 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.

Origin of twitch

1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English twicchen (verb); akin to Old English twiccian “to pluck”; cognate with German zwicken “to pinch”

Other words from twitch

  • twitcher, noun
  • twitch·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·twitched, adjective
  • un·twitch·ing, adjective

Words Nearby twitch

Other definitions for Twitch (2 of 2)

Twitch
[ twich ]

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use twitch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for twitch

twitch

/ (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

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

  2. (tr) rare to nip

noun
  1. a sharp jerking movement

  2. a mental or physical twinge

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

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

Origin of twitch

1
Old English twiccian to pluck; related to Old High German zwecchōn to pinch, Dutch twicken

Derived forms of twitch

  • twitching, adjective, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012