TWIG (twigged, twigging)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: twigged    , twigging   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does twig mean? 

• TWIG (noun)
  The noun TWIG has 1 sense:

1. a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

  Familiarity information: TWIG used as a noun is very rare.

• TWIG (verb)
  The verb TWIG has 2 senses:

1. branch out in a twiglike manner

2. understand, usually after some initial difficulty

  Familiarity information: TWIG used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TWIG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

branchlet; sprig; twig

Hypernyms ("twig" is a kind of...):

branch (a division of a stem, or secondary stem arising from the main stem of a plant)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "twig"):

brier (a thorny stem or twig)

wand (a thin supple twig or rod)

withe; withy (strong flexible twig)

Derivation:

twig (branch out in a twiglike manner)

twiggy (thin as a twig)

• TWIG (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Branch out in a twiglike manner

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The lightning bolt twigged in several directions

Hypernyms (to "twig" is one way to...):

branch; fork; furcate; ramify; separate (divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

twig (a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Understand, usually after some initial difficulty

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

catch on; cotton on; get it; get onto; get wise; latch on; tumble; twig

Context example:

She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on

Hypernyms (to "twig" is one way to...):

apprehend; compass; comprehend; dig; get the picture; grasp; grok; savvy (get the meaning of something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

“We’ll make it, I think; but you can depend upon it that blessed brother of mine has twigged our little game and is just a-humping for us. Ah, look at that!”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

When I came to I found that it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Now, child,” said he to his own daughter, “what will you have?” “The first twig, dear father, that brushes against your hat when you turn your face to come homewards,” said she.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

After what Amy would call Herculaneum efforts, in the way of mental and moral agriculture, my young ideas begin to shoot and my little twigs to bend as I could wish.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Then Lord John threw a bundle of twigs upon the fire, and their red glare lit up the intent faces of my companions and flickered over the great boughs above our heads.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The essential oil extracted from the needles and twigs of Pinus sylvestris.

(Pine Needle Oil (Pinus Sylvestris), NCI Thesaurus)

The essential oil extracted from the foliage and twigs of Melaleuca viridiflora.

(Niaouli Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

He raised a sightless face and listened intently as Negore's foot crackled a dead twig.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

“Hast never seen tumblers before?” asked the elder, a black-browed, swarthy man, as brown and supple as a hazel twig.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A twig that he thought a long way off, would the next instant hit him on the nose or rake along his ribs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)