twig

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a small shoot or branch usually without its leaves
2
: a minute branch of a nerve or artery
twigged adjective
twiggy adjective

twig

2 of 3

verb

twigged; twigging

transitive verb

1
2
: to understand the meaning of : comprehend

intransitive verb

: to gain a grasp : understand
twigged instinctively about thingsH. E. Bates

twig

3 of 3

noun (2)

British

Examples of twig in a Sentence

Verb He seemed confused until he twigged that something was going on. I had to explain it to him three times but he finally twigged.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Faux pine branches, spindly twigs, and pinecones fan out from a natural grapevine base in this 24-inch Amazon wreath that’s ready to hang with the attached wire loop. Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024 To access these food-rich pockets, crows in these islands have evolved an extraordinary ability to fashion tools out of twigs. Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
Which twigged Kotb to the fact that there’s most likely a secret date already on the books. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 July 2024 Despite finding themselves in the exact same spot in the hotel gardens, Harris didn’t twig that something was afoot. Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for twig 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English twigge, from Old English; akin to Old High German zwīg twig, Old English twā two

Verb

perhaps from Irish & Scottish Gaelic tuig- understand

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1764, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of twig was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near twig

Cite this Entry

“Twig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twig. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

twig

noun
ˈtwig
: a small shoot or branch usually without its leaves
twiggy
ˈtwig-ē
adjective

Medical Definition

twig

noun
: a minute branch of a nerve or artery
twigs of sensory nerves in the skinLynda Charters

More from Merriam-Webster on twig

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!