Oxford Basic American Dictionary

to change the shape of something by turning it in different directions; to turn in many directions

She twisted the metal into strange shapes. The path twists and turns through the forest.

to turn something with your hand Twist the lid off the jar.

to turn something around another object many times They twisted the sheets into a rope, and escaped through the window.

to hurt part of your body by suddenly turning it in a way that is not natural

She fell and twisted her ankle.

twist2 noun [ count ]

the action of turning something with your hand, or of turning part of your body

She gave the handle a hard twist.

a change in a story or situation that you do not expect It's a story with a twist at the end, which surprised us all.

a place where a road or river bends

The car followed the twists and turns of the mountain road.

twitch / twitf / verb ( twitch - es , twitch - ing , twitched )

to make a sudden quick movement with a part of your body

Rabbits twitch their noses.

►twitch noun [ count ] ( plural twitch . es )

He has a nervous twitch.

tWO © / tu / number

2

in two

into two pieces

The cup fell on the floor and broke in two.

ty • ing

form of tie 1

type 1 © / taip / noun

[ count ] a group of things that are the same in some way An almond is a type of nut.

What type of music do you like?

—SYNONYM kind , sort

[ noncount ] the letters that a machine makes on paper The type was so small I couldn't read it.

type 2© / taip / verb (types , typ .ing , typed )

to write something using a machine that has keys, such as a

computer or a typewriter

Yesterday I typed another chapter of my book.

Can you type?

type • writ • er / ' taipraitar / noun [ count ]

a machine with keys that you use for writing an old electric typewriter

ty • phoon / tai 'fun / noun [ count ]

( GEOGRAPHY ) a violent storm with strong winds in a hot country

Word building

When there is a storm, you hear thunder and see lightning in the sky.

Cyclones , hurricanes , tornadoes , and typhoons

are large, violent storms.

typ .i .Cal © / 'tipikl/ adjective

Something that is typical is a good example of its kind

It is a typical small town.

►typ • i • cal • ly / ' tipikli / adverb

The workers here typically earn about $15 per hour.

ty • po / ' taipou / ( plural ty - pos ) a small mistake in something that has been typed Check for any typos in your resume before you send it.

—Look at misprint .

ty • rant / ' tairant / noun [ count ]

( POLITICS ) a person with a lot of power, who uses it in a cruel way

►ty • ran • ni • cal / ti ' ranikl / adjective

He was a tyrannical ruler.

Uu

U, u / yu / noun [ count, noncount ] ( plural U's, u's / yuz / )

the twenty-first letter of the English alphabet "Ugly" begins with a "U."

UFO / |yu ef ' ou / abbreviation ( plural UFOs )

a strange object that some people think they have seen in the sky and that may come from another planet. UFO is short for "unidentified flying object."

Ug . ly ©/ \c|li / adjective ( ug li er , ug li est)

not pleasant to look at an ugly face

The house was really ugly. —ANTONYM beautiful

ul • cer / '.lsar / noun [ count ]

( HEALTH ) a painful area on your skin or inside your body a mouth ulcer

ul • ti • mate aw / ' .ltamat / j

happening at the end of a long process Our ultimate goal is independence.

ul • ti • ma • tum / ^lta 'meitam / noun [ count ]

a warning to someone that, if they do not do what you ask, you will punish them

The landlord gave them an ultimatum: pay the rent or get out of the apartment.

ul • tra • vi • o • let / |\ltra 'vaialat /