twiddle
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twid·dle
(twĭd′l)v. twid·dled, twid·dling, twid·dles
v.tr.
To turn over or around idly or lightly; fiddle with: "Couples are twiddling swizzle sticks while waiting for their tables" (Bryan Miller).
v.intr.
1. To trifle with something.
2. To be busy about trifles.
3. To twirl or rotate without purpose.
n.
Idiom: The act or an instance of twiddling.
twiddle (one's) thumbs
To do little or nothing; be idle.
twid′dler n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
twiddle
(ˈtwɪdəl)vb
1. (when: intr, often foll by with) to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way
2. to do nothing; be unoccupied
3. (intr) to turn, twirl, or rotate
4. (intr) rare to be occupied with trifles
n
an act or instance of twiddling
[C16: probably a blend of twirl + fiddle]
ˈtwiddler n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
twid•dle
(ˈtwɪd l)v. -dled, -dling,
n. v.t.
1. to turn about or play with lightly or idly, esp. with the fingers; twirl.
v.i. 2. to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle.
3. to turn about lightly; twirl.
n. 4. the act of twiddling; turn; twirl.
Idioms: twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing; be idle.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
twiddle
Past participle: twiddled
Gerund: twiddling
| Imperative |
|---|
| twiddle |
| twiddle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  twiddle - a series of small (usually idle) twists or turns |
| Verb | 1. |  twiddle - turn in a twisting or spinning motion; "The leaves swirled in the autumn wind" |
| 2. | twiddle - manipulate, as in a nervous or unconscious manner; "He twiddled his thumbs while waiting for the interview" manipulate - hold something in one's hands and move it |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
twiddle
verb fiddle with, adjust, finger, play with, juggle, wiggle (informal), twirl, jiggle, monkey with (informal) He twiddled a knob on the dashboard.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
twiddle
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَعْبَث بأصابِعِه
otáčet
dreje
snúa
sukinėti
grieztgrozīt
döndürmekdöndürüp durmak
twiddle
[ˈtwɪdl]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
twiddle
[ˈtwɪdəl] vt [+ knob, ring, hair] → tripoter
to twiddle one's thumbs (fig) → se tourner les pouces
to twiddle one's thumbs (fig) → se tourner les pouces
twiddle with
vt [+ knob, ring, hair] → tripoterCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
twiddle
vt → herumdrehen an (+dat); she twiddled the pencil in her fingers → ihre Finger spielten mit dem Bleistift; to twiddle one’s thumbs (lit, fig) → Däumchen drehen
vi to twiddle with a knob → an einem Knopf herumdrehen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
twiddle
[ˈtwɪdl] vt & vi to twiddle (with) sth → giocherellare con qcto twiddle one's thumbs (fig) → girarsi i pollici
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
twiddle
(ˈtwidl) verb to twist (something) round and round. He twiddled the knob on the radio.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.