twist

To twist something is to turn it or spin it. The result is a spiral shape or a curve.

Dough is twisted and then fried in oil to make a donut.
A pretzel is twisted dough, baked and salted.
Plant fibers are twisted to make rope.
Twisted hair takes the form of a braid.
A spiral staircase twists.

There are other ways to use this word.

• A suspenseful movie has twists and turns. (You are suprised by what happens next.)
• You can twist a person’s words in order to change their meaning.
• Figuratively twisting a person’s arm is to apply one’s influence and change an outcome.
• A person who is twisted may have crazy or insane thoughts.

Perhaps the most famous twist is the one made famous by Chubby Checker:

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January 27, 2014