a person or thing that twitches a bird-watcher who tries to spot as many rare varieties as possible
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
twitch /twɪtʃ/USA pronunciation
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to (cause to) move with a sudden, jerking motion, as a part of the body: [no object]He lay there twitching as the drug took effect.[~ + object]He twitched his arm.
- to tug or pull at with a quick, short movement: [~ + object]Someone twitched my coat sleeve.[no object]to twitch at his coat sleeve.
- to ache with a sharp, shooting pain:[no object]His arm twitched with pain.
n. [countable]
- a quick, jerky, uncontrolled movement of the body or of some part of it, as a muscle.
- a mental twinge, as of pain, conscience, etc.;
a pang:a twitch of conscience.
twitch (twich),USA pronunciation
v.t.
v.i.
n.
twitch′er, n.
twitch′ing•ly, adv.
- to tug or pull at with a quick, short movement;
pluck:She twitched him by the sleeve. - to jerk rapidly:The rider twitched the reins a couple of times.
- to move (a part of the body) with a sudden, jerking motion.
- to pinch or pull at sharply and painfully;
give a smarting pinch to;
nip.
v.i.
- to move spasmodically or convulsively;
jerk;
jump. - to give a sharp, sudden pull;
tug;
pluck (usually fol. by at):He constantly twitched at his collar. - to ache or hurt with a sharp, shooting pain;
twinge:That back tooth twitches a bit.
n.
- a quick, jerky movement of the body or of some part of it.
- involuntary, spasmodic movement of a muscle;
tic:He gets a twitch in his left eye when he's nervous. - a short, sudden pull or tug;
jerk. - a bodily or mental twinge, as of pain, conscience, etc.;
pang. - a loop or noose placed over the muzzle of a horse and tightened by twisting a stick or handle to which it is attached, used as a restraining device during a painful operation.
- 1125–75; Middle English twicchen (verb, verbal); akin to Old English twiccian to pluck; cognate with German zwicken to pinch
twitch′ing•ly, adv.