noun
twitch
twihch
noun
1
A small, sudden, often involuntary movement of a muscle.
"A nervous twitch appeared in his eye during the interview."
verb
1
To move suddenly and briefly, often without control.
"Her fingers twitched as she waited for the results."
"The dog's ear twitched at the sound of the doorbell."
How to Use Twitch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, sudden movement, often one you can't control.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with the video-streaming platform Twitch, which took its name from birdwatchers' slang for spotting a rare bird.
Common pairings
a nervous twitch
twitch involuntarily
muscle twitch
Word Forms
twitched past tense, twitches plural, twitches singular
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A nervous _____ appeared in his eye during the interview.
Etymology
From Old English twiċċan, related to "tweak," originally meaning to pinch or pluck sharply.