Twiddle — Twid dle, v. t. [Probably of imitative origin. Cf. {Tweedle}.] To touch lightly, or play with; to tweedle; to twirl; as, to twiddle one s thumbs; to twiddle a watch key. [Written also twidle.] Thackeray. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
twiddle — ► VERB ▪ play or fiddle with (something) in a purposeless or nervous way. ► NOUN 1) an act of twiddling. 2) a rapid or intricate series of musical notes. ● twiddle one s thumbs Cf. ↑twiddle one s thumbs … English terms dictionary
twiddle — (v.) 1540s, to trifle, of unknown origin; of the fingers, first recorded 1670s. Figurative phrase twiddle one s thumbs have nothing to do is recorded from 1846; to twirl one s thumbs in the same sense is recorded from 1816. Related: Twiddled;… … Etymology dictionary
twiddle — [twid′ l] vt. twiddled, twiddling [prob. < TW(IST) or TW(IRL) + (D)IDDLE] to twirl or play with lightly or idly vi. 1. to toy or trifle with some object 2. to be busy about trifles 3 … English World dictionary
Twiddle — Twid dle, v. i. To play with anything; hence, to be busy about trifles. Halliwell. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Twiddle — Twid dle, n. 1. A slight twist with the fingers. [1913 Webster] 2. A pimple. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
twiddle — UK [ˈtwɪd(ə)l] / US verb Word forms twiddle : present tense I/you/we/they twiddle he/she/it twiddles present participle twiddling past tense twiddled past participle twiddled 1) [intransitive/transitive] to twist or turn something in a bored or… … English dictionary
twiddle — twid|dle [ˈtwıdl] v [I and T] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Probably copying the action] 1.) twiddle your thumbs informal to do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen ▪ Let s go there s no point in sitting here twiddling our thumbs.… … Dictionary of contemporary English
twiddle — 1 verb (T) 1 also twiddle with to move or turn something around with your fingers many times, especially because you are bored 2 twiddle your thumbs informal a) to do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen b) to join your fingers… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
twiddle — twid|dle [ twıdl ] verb 1. ) transitive to turn a switch on a piece of equipment or a machine: He twiddled the radio dial until he found a news program. 2. ) intransitive or transitive to twist or turn something in a bored or nervous way: She… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
