TWINGE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does twinge mean? 

• TWINGE (noun)
  The noun TWINGE has 2 senses:

1. a sudden sharp feeling

2. a sharp stab of pain

  Familiarity information: TWINGE used as a noun is rare.

• TWINGE (verb)
  The verb TWINGE has 3 senses:

1. cause a stinging pain

2. feel a sudden sharp, local pain

3. squeeze tightly between the fingers

  Familiarity information: TWINGE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TWINGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sudden sharp feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

pang; stab; twinge

Context example:

twinges of conscience

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

feeling (the experiencing of affective and emotional states)

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

guilt pang (pangs of feeling guilty)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sharp stab of pain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

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

pain; pain sensation; painful sensation (a somatic sensation of acute discomfort)

Derivation:

twinge (feel a sudden sharp, local pain)

twinge (cause a stinging pain)

• TWINGE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they twinge    ... he / she / it twinges   
Past simple: twinged   
Past participle: twinged   
-ing form: twinging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause a stinging pain

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

prick; sting; twinge

Context example:

The needle pricked his skin

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

ache; hurt; suffer (feel physical pain)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "twinge"):

prick; prickle (cause a prickling sensation)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

twinge (a sharp stab of pain)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Feel a sudden sharp, local pain

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

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

ache; hurt; suffer (feel physical pain)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

twinge (a sharp stab of pain)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Squeeze tightly between the fingers

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

nip; pinch; squeeze; tweet; twinge; twitch

Context example:

She squeezed the bottle

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

grip (hold fast or firmly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "twinge"):

goose (pinch in the buttocks)

tweak (pinch or squeeze sharply)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

I know not why, but I was aware of a twinge or pang like the cut of a knife when he mentioned her.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

We supposed he had now eased his mind, and told the worst he knew of the cook; but, a day or two afterwards, his conscience sustained a new twinge, and he disclosed how she had a little girl, who, early every morning, took away our bread; and also how he himself had been suborned to maintain the milkman in coals.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

If Jo had not been otherwise engaged, Laurie's behavior would have amused her, for a faint twinge, not of jealousy, but something like suspicion, caused that gentleman to stand aloof at first, and observe the newcomer with brotherly circumspection.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A contrite heart and ten nobles to holy mother Church may stave off perdition; but he hath a pardon of the first degree, with a twenty-five livre benison, so that I doubt if he will so much as feel a twinge of purgatory.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)