twig
twig¹
Definition
twig (twig)
noun
a small, slender branch or shoot of a tree or shrub
Etymology: ME twigge < OE, akin to Ger zweig < IE *dwigho- < base *dwöu-, two: prob. with reference to the forking of the twig
twig²
Definition
twig (twig)
transitive verb, intransitive verb twigged, twig′·ging
- to observe
- to understand
Etymology: via thieves' slang < Ir tuigim, I understand
twig
Synonyms
twig
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- snap: Then the monsters shivered in the cold night; one snapped a twig with his heavy boot.
- collect: Collect some bare twigs, put into water in the class to watch them changing.
- break: As for his disciples they ran away from the garden breaking the twigs in their hurry to disappear.
- cut: You will want to cut the twigs into about ten inch lengths.
- leave: The next morning, I pour off ( and drink ) the wintergreen flavored tea, leaving the twigs in the jar.
- use: Some birds use stones to crush animal shells, chimpanzees use twigs to extract ants.
Adjective modifier
- hazel: Peonies flop, so surround with hazel twigs or metal or plastic supports as they start to sprout in spring.
- birch: Many hundreds of years ago, she would have flogged herself with birch twigs.
- slender: Silver Birch The white bark and slender twigs of this graceful tree preclude confusion with any other.
- twisted: Soon it was just a couple of broken, twisted twigs.
- bare: Anything in nature - a bare twig against the sky - can lighten my mood.
- broken: Soon it was just a couple of broken, twisted twigs.
Modifying Another Word
- finally: Now, however, food giant Heinz has finally twigged that it would make sense to combine the two.
- n't: Hi - I did n't twig you were with AOL.
Noun used with modifier
- willow: Willow twigs have been planted to form a hedge on the bank side.
- oak: The dull black colored adults feed on sap from oak twigs.
- winter: The key is based on the arrangement of leaves on a twig OR features of a winter twig without leaves.
- tree: Drill a hole into the top of a fir tree twig to create the trunk.
Used with why or when
- what: Eventually the German twigged what was going on, then you had to duck a few rifle butts or a kick up the backside.
Preposition: of
- tree: The shape is based on the branches or twigs of the crab apple tree.
Browse dictionary entries near twig
- twiddle
- Twickenham
- twice-told
- twice-laid
- twice
- twibill
- twi-night
- Twi
- twerp
- 'twere
- twiggy
- twilight
- Twilight of the Gods
- twilight sleep
- twilight zone
- twilit
- twill
- twin
- twin bed
- twin bill
