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9 dictionary results for: twiddle
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
twid·dle
[twid-l] Pronunciation Key verb, -dled, -dling, noun
[twid-l] Pronunciation Key verb, -dled, -dling, noun –verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
–noun
—Idiom
| 1. | to turn about or play with lightly or idly, esp. with the fingers; twirl. |
| 2. | to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle. |
| 3. | to turn about lightly; twirl. |
| 4. | the act of twiddling; turn; twirl. |
| 5. | twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing; be idle: Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| twid·dle
(twĭd'l) Pronunciation Key
v. twid·dled, twid·dling, twid·dles v. tr. To turn over or around idly or lightly; fiddle with: "Couples are twiddling swizzle sticks while waiting for their tables" (Bryan Miller). v. intr.
n. The act or an instance of twiddling. [Possibly blend of twist and fiddle.] twid'dler n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
twiddle
twiddle
c.1540, "to trifle," of unknown origin; of the fingers, first recorded 1676. Fig. 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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| twiddle | |
noun | |
| 1. | a series of small (usually idle) twists or turns |
verb | |
| 1. | turn in a twisting or spinning motion; "The leaves swirled in the autumn wind" [syn: twirl] |
| 2. | manipulate, as in a nervous or unconscious manner; "He twiddled his thumbs while waiting for the interview" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This
twiddle
1.
2.
[The Jargon File]
(1995-01-31)
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Jargon File - Cite This Source - Share This
1. Tilde (ASCII 1111110, `~'). Also called `squiggle', `sqiggle' (sic -- pronounced /skig'l/), and `twaddle', but twiddle is the most common term.
2. A small and insignificant change to a program. Usually fixes one bug and generates several new ones (see also shotgun debugging).
3. vt. To change something in a small way. Bits, for example, are often twiddled. Twiddling a switch or knobs implies much less sense of purpose than toggling or tweaking it; see frobnicate. To speak of twiddling a bit connotes aimlessness, and at best doesn't specify what you're doing to the bit; `toggling a bit' has a more specific meaning (see bit twiddling, toggle).
4. Uncommon name for the twirling baton prompt.
twiddle
n.1. Tilde (ASCII 1111110, `~'). Also called `squiggle', `sqiggle' (sic -- pronounced /skig'l/), and `twaddle', but twiddle is the most common term.
2. A small and insignificant change to a program. Usually fixes one bug and generates several new ones (see also shotgun debugging).
3. vt. To change something in a small way. Bits, for example, are often twiddled. Twiddling a switch or knobs implies much less sense of purpose than toggling or tweaking it; see frobnicate. To speak of twiddling a bit connotes aimlessness, and at best doesn't specify what you're doing to the bit; `toggling a bit' has a more specific meaning (see bit twiddling, toggle).
4. Uncommon name for the twirling baton prompt.
Jargon File 4.2.0
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Twiddle
Twid"dle\, v. i. To play with anything; hence, to be busy about trifles. --Halliwell.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Twiddle
Twid"dle\, n. 1. A slight twist with the fingers. 2. A pimple. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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