twitter — English Dictionary

Noun

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

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

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

2. Unwanted flicker that occurs in interlaced displays when the image contains vertical detail that approaches the horizontal resolution of the video format.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Interline twitter occurs on interlaced displays at half the field-rate.

3. A tremulous broken sound.

   Usage

   • Countable

4. A slight trembling of the nerves.

   Usage

   • Countable

5. Chiefly in the form in a twitter: a state of excitement or nervousness; a twit.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Countable
   • Informal
   • Regional

Verb

1. To utter a succession of chirps.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, / The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed,

   More examples (1)

   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.

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

   Usage

   • Intransitive
   • Transitive

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

   Examples

   Oh, the young handsom wenches, how they twitter'd, / When they but saw me shake my ware, and sing too!

   Ball held sow's ear, And both in rear, Ran against old Dame and hit her That she did fall, Over sow and Ball, How Jack and Jill did twitter.

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

5. To twit; to reproach or upbraid.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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 […]

Noun

1. A knot or other defect in a thread or yarn which hinders spinning or weaving; a twit.

   Usage

   • Northern-England
   • Scotland
   • Archaic

Noun

1. a series of chirps

   Synonyms

   chirrup

   Broader terms

   sound

Verb

1. make high-pitched sounds, as of birds

   Synonyms

   chitter

   Broader terms

   peepcheepchirpchirrup