curl vs twist

curl

noun
  • A spin making the trajectory of an object curve. 

  • Movement of a moving rock away from a straight line. 

  • {{ux|en|The curl of the vector field ⃑F(x,y,z) is the vector field operatorname curl,⃑F≡⃑∇⨯⃑F=((∂F_z)/(∂y)-(∂F_y)/(∂z),(∂F_x)/(∂z)-(∂F_z)/(∂x),(∂F_y)/(∂x)-(∂F_x)/(∂y)).}} 

  • The vector operator, denoted rm curl; or ⃑∇⨯⃑(·), that generates this field. 

  • Any exercise performed by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially those that train the biceps. 

  • A curved stroke or shape. 

  • Any of various diseases of plants causing the leaves or shoots to curl up; often specifically the potato curl. 

  • A pattern where the receiver appears to be running a fly pattern but after a set number of steps or yards quickly stops and turns around, looking for a pass. 

  • The vector field denoting the rotationality of a given vector field. 

  • The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the flame. 

  • A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet. 

verb
  • To cause to move in a curve. 

  • To shape (the brim of a hat) into a curve. 

  • To move in curves. 

  • To take part in the sport of curling. 

  • To twist or form (the hair, etc.) into ringlets. 

  • To exercise by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially of the biceps. 

  • To make into a curl or spiral. 

  • To assume the shape of a curl or spiral. 

  • To deck with, or as if with, curls; to ornament. 

  • To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple. 

twist

noun
  • A twisting force. 

  • A sliver of lemon peel added to a cocktail, etc. 

  • A distortion to the meaning of a word or passage. 

  • A sudden bend (or short series of bends) in a road, path, etc. 

  • The form given in twisting. 

  • An unexpected turn in a story, tale, etc. 

  • A roll or baton of baked dough or pastry in a twisted shape. 

  • The spiral course of the rifling of a gun barrel or a cannon. 

  • A type of dance characterised by rotating one’s hips. See Twist (dance) on Wikipedia for more details. 

  • A strong individual tendency or bent; inclination. 

  • The degree of stress or strain when twisted. 

  • Anything twisted, or the act of twisting. 

  • A small roll of tobacco. 

  • A sprain, especially to the ankle. 

  • A girl, a woman. 

  • A material for gun barrels, consisting of iron and steel twisted and welded together. 

  • A type of thread made from two filaments twisted together. 

  • A rotation of the body when diving. 

verb
  • To turn the ends of something, usually thread, rope etc., in opposite directions, often using force. 

  • To wreathe; to wind; to encircle; to unite by intertexture of parts. 

  • To distort or change the truth or meaning of words when repeating. 

  • In the game of blackjack (pontoon or twenty-one), to be dealt another card. 

  • To turn a knob etc. 

  • To join together by twining one part around another. 

  • To wind into; to insinuate. 

  • To form a twist (in any of the above noun meanings). 

  • To wind; to follow a bendy or wavy course; to have many bends. 

  • To injure (a body part) by bending it in the wrong direction. 

  • To cause to rotate. 

  • To contort; to writhe; to complicate; to crook spirally; to convolve. 

  • To coax. 

  • To dance the twist (a type of dance characterised by twisting one's hips). 

How often have the words curl and twist occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )