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small insects having the anterior wings rudimentary, and in the form of short and slender twisted appendages, while the posterior ones are large and membranous. They are parasitic in the larval state on bees, wasps, and the like; -- called also Rhipiptera. See Illust. under Rhipipter.

Having twisted nostrils; -- said of the lemurs. -- n. (Zoöl.)

An extensive division of gastropod Mollusca in which the loop or visceral nerves is twisted, and the sexes separate. It is nearly to equivalent to Prosobranchiata.

occurring of the form of long, smooth and apparently branched threads, either straight or twisted.

A genus of tropical apocynaceous shrubs having singularly twisted flowers. One species (Strophanthus hispidus) is used medicinally as a cardiac sedative and stimulant.

Twisted guts. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ascham.

; a compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns doubled, or joined together, and twisted.

a. & p. p. from Throw, v. Thrown silk, silk thread consisting of two or more singles twisted together like a rope, in a direction contrary to that in which the singles of which it is composed are twisted. M'Culloch. -- Thrown singles, silk thread or cord made by three processes of twisting, first into singles, two or…

A length of twisted hair or gut in a fish line. [Scot.]

A collar or neck chain, usually twisted, especially as worn by ancient barbaric nations, as the Gauls, Germans, and Britons.

Wreathed; twisted. [R.]

A twisted cord; also, a molded or worked ornament of similar form.

The tendency, as of a rope, to untwist after being twisted.

The act of turning or twisting, or the state of being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.

on, or the force with which a thread or wire returns to a state of rest after having been twisted round its axis; as, torsional force.

Twisted; wreathed; coiled.

The quality or state of being tortile, twisted, or wreathed.

Twisted; wreathed. Shak.

Wreathed; twisted; winding. Loudon

Bent in different directions; wreathed; twisted; winding; as, a tortuous train; a tortuous train; a tortuous leaf or corolla. The badger made his dark and tortuous hole on the side of every hill where the copsewood grew thick. Macaulay.