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twitter

noun, verb — 16 senses

Twitter

nounalso spelled Twitter

UK /ˈtwɪ.tə/ · US /ˈtwɪ.təɹ/

Etymology From twitter (“to utter a succession of chirps”).

1

Internet, Informal A user account on Twitter.

  • I've lost the password to my Twitter.
  • I deleted Twitter last night. I just can't keep up anymore.
2

Internet, Informal A feed on Twitter.

3

Internet, In compounds, Informal, Usually A community on Twitter.

  • There were, of course, many Twitters existing in parallel: Politics Twitter, Sports Twitter, Black Twitter, Weird Twitter. But Twitter and TV went together like extreme weather and marine predators.2023 July 10, James Poniewozik, “The Twitter Watch Party Is Over”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 10 Jul 2023:

Twitter

verb

Etymology From twitter (“to utter a succession of chirps”).

1

Internet, Ambitransitive, Proscribed, Sometimes To tweet; to post an update to Twitter.

  • Stars can’t stop Twittering at Oscars, parties2009 February 23, MSNBC, “Stars can’t stop Twittering at Oscars, parties”, in Access Hollywood, retrieved 02 Mar 2009:
  • Eight top-notch tips for the Twittering attorney2009 March 2, Justin Rebello, “Eight top-notch tips for the Twittering attorney"”, in Wisconsin Law Journal, retrieved 02 Mar 2009:

twitter

noun

UK /ˈtwɪtə/ · /ˈtwɪtɚ/

Etymology From Middle English twitren, twiteren, from Old English *twiterian, from Proto-West Germanic *twitwiʀōn, from Proto-Germanic *twitwizōną (“to chirp; twitter”). Cognate with Low German twitteren (“to twitter”), German zwitzern, zwitschern (“to twitter”). Compare also Dutch kwetteren (“to twitter”), Danish kvidre (“to twitter”), Swedish kvittra (“to twitter”), dialectal Swedish tittra (“to twitter”).

1

The sound of a succession of chirps as uttered by birds.

  • I often listen to the twitter of the birds in the park.
2

Business, Electrical engineering, Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Unwanted flicker that occurs in interlaced displays when the image contains vertical detail that approaches the horizontal resolution of the video format.

  • Interline twitter occurs on interlaced displays at half the field-rate.1986, Second International Conference on Simulators: 7-11 September 1986, IEEE, page 145:
3

A tremulous broken sound.

4

A slight trembling of the nerves.

5

UK, Informal, Regional Chiefly in the form in a twitter: a state of excitement or nervousness; a twit.

Derived terms
twitteration, twitter-bone, twitter-boned, twitterer, twitterish, twittersome, twittery

twitter

verb

Etymology From Middle English twitren, twiteren, from Old English *twiterian, from Proto-West Germanic *twitwiʀōn, from Proto-Germanic *twitwizōną (“to chirp; twitter”). Cognate with Low German twitteren (“to twitter”), German zwitzern, zwitschern (“to twitter”). Compare also Dutch kwetteren (“to twitter”), Danish kvidre (“to twitter”), Swedish kvittra (“to twitter”), dialectal Swedish tittra (“to twitter”).

1

To utter a succession of chirps.

  • The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, / The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed,1750 June 12 (date written; published 1751), T[homas] Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”, in Designs by Mr. R[ichard] Bentley, for Six Poems by Mr. T. Gray, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], published 1753, →OCLC:
  • The swallows, which had been tempted here in great numbers on account of the quantity of insects to be found in proximity to the wood, and had established themselves in the barn and under the eaves, were gambolling, circling, and twittering fearlessly about in the sunshine.1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], translated by H. L. Brækstad, Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 278:
2

(of a person) To talk in an excited or nervous manner.

3

To make the sound of a half-suppressed laugh; to titter; to giggle.

  • Oh, the young handsom wenches, how they twitter'd, / When they but saw me shake my ware, and sing too!c. 1616–1619 (first performance), John Fletcher, “The Loyal Subiect”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
4

To have a slight trembling of the nerves; to be excited or agitated.

5

Obsolete To twit; to reproach or upbraid.

  • I have repented of it many’s the good time and oft. And if he was so good to forgive me a word spoken in haste or so, it doth not become such a one as you to twitter me. He was a husband to me, he was; and if ever I did make use of an ill word or so in a passion, I never called him rascal […]1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
6

Alternative Alternative form of Twitter.

  • In addition to listing specific earmarks he finds the most reprehensible, McCain said he has been twittering the “top ten” most egregious2009 March 2, Michelle Levi, “McCain Criticizes Obama On The Senate Floor”, in CBS News, retrieved 02 Mar 2009:
Derived terms
atwitter, twitteringly, twitterpated

twitter

noun

Etymology Origin unknown; possibly related to twine, twist, and twirl.

1

Business, Manufacturing, Textiles, Weaving Northern England, Scotland, Archaic A knot or other defect in a thread or yarn which hinders spinning or weaving; a twit.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — authors: page histories for Twitter and twitter.

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