twig

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a small shoot or branch usually without its leaves
2
: a minute branch of a nerve or artery
twigged adjective
twiggy adjective

twig

2 of 3

verb

twigged; twigging

transitive verb

1
2
: to understand the meaning of : comprehend

intransitive verb

: to gain a grasp : understand
twigged instinctively about thingsH. E. Bates

twig

3 of 3

noun (2)

British

Examples of twig in a Sentence

Verb He seemed confused until he twigged that something was going on. I had to explain it to him three times but he finally twigged.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Blurring the lines between what’s considered an Easter wreath versus a spring wreath, this 20-inch door decoration has all the hallmarks of both: daisies, berries, greenery, twine, a twig nest, and a Robin’s blue bird eggs with mossy details. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Before Schumer, the Queen of Pop trotted out stars such as Diplo, Donatella Versace and FKA twigs during the ballroom segment of the show. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2024 In the film, soulmates Eric Draven (Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 21 Feb. 2024 Miles from civilization, no one is policing the landscape for holes in the ice, buried rocks and twigs, and surprise cliffs, not to mention avalanches and ice dams. Talia Barrington, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2024 For other shots, the cinematographer placed cameras on the roads to capture the shaking of a single twig as the cars rumbled by, and in tracking cars speeding behind the race. Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2023 Primavera Sound will return to Barcelona from May 29 to June 2, 2024, with Lana Del Rey, Pulp, SZA, and FKA twigs on the bill. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Nov. 2023 The decision means that the advertisement featuring FKA twigs cannot appear again in its current form. TIME, 10 Jan. 2024 Pitchfork has emailed representatives for FKA twigs and Calvin Klein for comment. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 10 Jan. 2024
Verb
In hindsight, the impression is of an unwitting team effort, each inventor chipping away at the riddle of cinema without quite twigging its significance. Nat Segnit, Harper's Magazine, 4 Mar. 2022 The blades can handle branches and twigs up to 1 inch thick. Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2023 And the firms have started to twig that lofty statements and charity do not suffice. The Economist, 20 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twig.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English twigge, from Old English; akin to Old High German zwīg twig, Old English twā two

Verb

perhaps from Irish & Scottish Gaelic tuig- understand

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1764, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of twig was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near twig

Cite this Entry

“Twig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twig. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

twig

noun
ˈtwig
: a small shoot or branch usually without its leaves
twiggy
ˈtwig-ē
adjective

Medical Definition

twig

noun
: a minute branch of a nerve or artery
twigs of sensory nerves in the skinLynda Charters

More from Merriam-Webster on twig

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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