twig
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.”
How to use twig
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small branch — or, informally, to suddenly catch on to something.
The "realize" sense is mainly British and informal.
Word forms
twigged past tense, twigged past tense, twigged past tense, twigs plural, twigs singular, twigs singular, twigs singular
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
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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.