Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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intj
Used to represent the short, high-pitched call of a small bird, or a similar sound made by something else: cheep, tweet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: onomatopoeic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A jibe, reproach, or taunt, especially one made in a good-natured or teasing manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An annoying or foolish person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: alcatote, asshat, arsehole, asshole, bayard, berk, birdbrain, blither, bobchin, bonehead, bozo, buffoon, brickhead, Charlie, chucklehead, chowderhead, chump, clart, clown, der-brain, dill pickle, dim bulb, dimwit, dingleberry, dipshit, dipstick, dirtbrain, div, divvo, divvy, dolt, donk, doodle, doofus, dope, dork, dote, dotterel, dullard, dumbass, dumbbell, dumbo, dumb fuck, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, dupe, fathead, fenderhead, fiddle, fuckwit, fuzznut, geck, gig, gink, goober, gooseberry, gowk, gubbins, gump, half-baked, ha'p'orth, Homer Simpson, ignoramus, imbecile, jamoke, jerk, jerkoff, jolterhead, jolthead, juggins, jughead, knucklehead, lamebrain, mameluke (US (Italian-American), slang), maroon, meathead, mong, moron, mug, muggins, mushhead, nimrod, nincompoop, nit, nitwit, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, numskull, numps, numpty, nupson, oaf, pillock, pinhead, plonker, prat, retard, shit for brains, shithead, shitwit, schmo, schmuck, smooth brain, snapperhead, softhead, sohai, sot, stupid, sucker, thickhead, tonto, tool, tosser, tosspot, tubelight, twat, twerp, twit, wally, wantwit, wazzock, yampy
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person who chatters or gossips inanely; a chatterer, a gossip or gossiper; also, a person who divulges private information about others or is indiscreet; a tattletale.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ireland, UK, archaic, dialectal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: carrytale, blab, blabbermouth, blabtale, blabtongue, busybody, buzzer, gossip, gossiper, gossipmonger, meddler, mouth, mumblenews, newsmonger, rumormonger, rumourmonger, scandalmonger, sleazemonger, tabby, talebearer, talecarrier, tattletale, telltale, telltale tit, titivil, tittle-tattle, town crier, whisperer
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A short, high-pitched call of a small bird, or a similar sound made by something else; a cheep, a chirp, a tweet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Chiefly in the form in a twit: clipping of twitter (“a state of excitement or nervousness”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Clipping of twitter (“a knot or other defect in a thread or yarn which hinders spinning or weaving”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Northern-England, Scotland, abbreviation, alt-of, archaic, clipping
Topics: business, manufacturing, textiles, weaving
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To blame or reproach (someone), especially in a good-natured or teasing manner; also, to ridicule or tease (someone).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: censure, upbraid, accuse, atwite, blame, bumble, challenge, cop out, decry, defame, denounce, fault, finger, inculpate, lay at someone's door, lay on, lay something at the feet of, patronize, point the bone, put it to, put the blame on, shend, twit, wite, taunt, badger, bam, barrack, brock, bullyrag, chiack, deride, fleer, fligger, flite, geck, heckle, hound, jeer, nip, outlaugh, poke borack, ridicule, scoff, sneer
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To criticize or disapprove of (something), especially in a good-natured or teasing manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: censure, ridicule
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To ignore or kill file (a user on a bulletin board system).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Followed by it: to speak or write (something) in a taunting or teasing manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To blame or reproach, especially in a good-natured or teasing manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To be indiscreet; to gossip.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dialectal, intransitive
Qualifier: obsolete except UK
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
aggravation by deriding or mocking or criticizing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: taunt, taunting
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: aggravation, irritation, provocation
noun
someone who is regarded as contemptible
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: twerp, twirp
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: simpleton, simple
verb
harass with persistent criticism or carping
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: tease, razz, rag, cod, tantalize, tantalise, bait, taunt, rally, ride
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mock, bemock
Narrower terms: jeer, scoff, flout, barrack, gibe, kid, chaff, jolly, josh, banter
History
Imitative of a bird’s call.
PIE word *h2éd The verb is an apheretic form of atwite (“(obsolete) to blame, reproach”), from Middle English atwiten (“to attribute (something) to someone; to blame (something) on someone; to accuse or charge (someone) with something; to speak ill of; to taunt”), from Old English ætwītan (“to blame, reproach; to censure, upbraid; to taunt”), from æt- (prefix meaning ‘at, near; toward’) + wītan (“to accuse; to blame, reproach”) (from Proto-Germanic *wītaną (“to punish; to torment; to know; to see”), from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to see”)). Piecewise doublet of advise. The noun is probably derived from the verb, although it is attested in print earlier.
Clipping of twitter.
Across languages
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
