noun
twig
twihg
Twig (noun) means a small, thin branch growing off a larger branch of a tree or bush. Example: “She snapped a dry twig underfoot while walking through the woods.”
noun
1
A small, thin branch growing off a larger branch of a tree or bush.
"She snapped a dry twig underfoot while walking through the woods."
"Birds gathered twigs to build their nest."
verb
1
(informal) To suddenly understand or realize something.
"It took him a while, but he finally twigged what she meant."
"I twigged that something was wrong when the lights went out."
How to use twig
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small branch — or, informally, to suddenly catch on to something.
When to use it
The "realize" sense is mainly British and informal.
Common pairings
snap a twig
twig and branch
finally twigged
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Word forms
- Plural
- twigs
- Third person singular
- twigs
- Past tense
- twigged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She snapped a dry _____ underfoot while walking through the woods.
Etymology
From Old English twigge, related to German Zweig ("branch"), ultimately going back to the same ancient root as the number "two," since a twig branches off in a fork.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for twig
See all rhymes for twig →Frequently asked questions
What does “twig” mean?
The word “twig” means a small, thin branch growing off a larger branch of a tree or bush. In plain terms, a small branch — or, informally, to suddenly catch on to something.
How do you pronounce “twig”?
“Twig” is pronounced twihg (/twɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “twig” in a sentence?
Here is “twig” used in a sentence: “She snapped a dry twig underfoot while walking through the woods.”
What is another word for “twig”?
Words with a similar meaning to “twig” include tillow, get it and notice.
What part of speech is “twig”?
Depending on how it is used, “twig” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “twig” come from?
The word “twig” comes from Old English. From Old English twigge, related to German Zweig ("branch"), ultimately going back to the same ancient root as the number "two," since a twig branches off in a fork.
How many meanings does “twig” have?
“Twig” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, thin branch growing off a larger branch of a tree or bush.
