Twitch Meaning
/twɪt͡ʃ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA brief, small (sometimes involuntary) movement out of place and then back again; a spasm.
nounAction of spotting or seeking out a bird, especially a rare one.
Sentence Examples
He began to twitch uncontrollably as I called 911.
I have a twitch in my right eye.
CEFR Practice Quiz
His eye began to ____ uncontrollably due to the bright light.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He has a small nervous ____ in his eye that becomes much more noticeable whenever he is feeling very tired today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English twicchen, from Old English *twiċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *twikkijan (“to nail, pin, fasten, clasp, pinch”). Cognate with English tweak, Low German twikken, German Low German twicken (“to pinch, pinch off”), zweckōn and gizwickan (> German zwicken (“to pinch”)).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"THE TWITCH is a short stick of strong ash, about the size of a mopstick, with a hole pierced near the end, through which is passed a piece of strong but small cord, and tied in a loop large enough to admit the open hand freely."
— 1861, John Henry Walsh, The Horse in the Stable and in the Field:
"Siberian Crane [...] Following its departure, there was much speculation that rediscovery at a less inaccessible locality would lead to one of the great twitches of 1981; alas, this was not to be."
— 1982, British Birds, volume 75, number 11, London, page 498:
"Their feet padded softly on the ground, and they crept quite close to him, twitching their noses..."
— 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
"Thrice they twitched the diamond in her ear."
— 1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, canto III:
"Marsh Sandpiper [...] This delicate ‘mini shank’ has graced our shores for the past six successive years and has become increasingly easy to twitch."
— 1982, British Birds, volume 75, number 11, London, page 504:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His eye began to ____ uncontrollably due to the bright light.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He has a small nervous ____ in his eye that becomes much more noticeable whenever he is feeling very tired today.