twitch

¹

[ twich ]

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.

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.

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

[ 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.

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
3. intr to hurt with a sharp spasmodic pain
4. rare.
   tr to nip

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

Derived Forms

• ˈtwitching, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• twitcher noun
• twitching·ly adverb
• un·twitched adjective
• un·twitching adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of twitch¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of twitch¹

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

Example Sentences

It wasn’t long before my left hand and arm were twitching and shaking uncontrollably.

From BBC

"He's a tight-head prop with fast twitch. You just don't get them," he said, going on to compare their scarcity to "teddy bear", ahem, "manure".

From BBC

She had been struggling with an ankle injury and said she "twitched" her neck during podium training on Thursday.

From BBC

Feline lovers in Kenya’s capital have been twitching over the threat of what is perceived as a “cat tax” - and any talk of tax in the East African nation raises the hackles.

From BBC

I have seen women manipulate men with just a twitch of their eye – or perhaps another body part.”

From Salon

Related Words

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