/ˈtwɪtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [twˈɪtɚ] /ˈtwɪtər/ (ame, ipa) · [twˈɪtɚ] /ˈtwi-tər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtwɪt.ər/ (bre, ipa) · [twˈɪtɚ] /ˈtwɪt̬.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
twitter — verb
- twitterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- twittershe / she / it
- twitteredpast simple
- twittering-ing form
1. if a small bird twitters, it keeps making many quick, high notes one after anoth
if a small bird twitters, it keeps making many quick, high notes one after another.
Two sparrows twittered in the hedge beside Lara's front gate at dawn.
intransitive; subject is a small bird
A robin twittered from the wet fence while Baraka unlocked his bike.
pattern: twitter from + place
The finches twittered in the trees behind the village school.
Before sunrise, a caged canary twittered softly near Nila's kitchen table.
- fall silent
stop making any sound
文法句型
bird + twitter
twitter from + place
twitter in the trees
用法筆記
Used mainly for the light, repeated calls of small birds. Larger birds are usually described with other verbs such as caw, honk, or screech.
常見錯誤
2. to rattle on in a thin, excited voice about matters that do not really matter mu
to rattle on in a thin, excited voice about matters that do not really matter much.
Yael twittered about table flowers while the wedding guests waited outside.
twitter about + topic
Outside the studio, Stephanie twittered excitedly about the singer's new coat.
twitter excitedly
The tourists twittered on about souvenir prices during the long bus ride.
At the salon, Otis listened as two clients twittered over celebrity gossip.
- speak calmly
talk in a steady, controlled way
文法句型
twitter about + topic
twitter on about + topic
twitter excitedly
用法筆記
Usually suggests both a high voice and a lack of importance. Distinguish from verb/1, which is about actual bird sounds, and from ordinary 'talk', which has no idea of fluttery excitement.
常見錯誤
3. to put a short message, picture, or link on the social-media service once called
to put a short message, picture, or link on the social-media service once called Twitter, now named X.
Defne twittered that the afternoon train would leave from platform six.
twitter + that-clause
Ari twittered a photo of the floodwater outside the market before sunrise.
transitive: twitter + photo
The museum twittered about free entry during the holiday weekend.
During the debate, Feng twittered live updates for classmates back home.
- stay offline
not put anything on the platform
文法句型
twitter + that-clause
twitter + photo/message/link
twitter about + topic
用法筆記
This verb belongs to the older platform name Twitter and still appears in past reporting, archived posts, and speech by users who kept the older term after the service became X.
常見錯誤
twitter — noun
- twittersingular
- twittersplural
1. a quick run of high bird sounds, often heard as one light burst.
a quick run of high bird sounds, often heard as one light burst.
Hui stopped on the path after hearing a twitter from the apple tree.
a twitter from + bird/place
A sharp twitter came from the nest above the classroom window.
hear a twitter
The first twitter of birds reached the camp before the sky grew pale.
From the hedge came a twitter that made the sleeping baby stir.
- silence
complete absence of sound
文法句型
a twitter from + bird
hear a twitter
the twitter of + birds
用法筆記
Often refers to one short burst or one thin set of bird sounds rather than a long song. It is less common than nouns such as chirp or birdsong.
常見錯誤
2. the earlier name of the social-media platform now called X, where users shared s
the earlier name of the social-media platform now called X, where users shared short public messages.
The school first announced the snow day on Twitter before updating its website.
on Twitter
Many local reporters still call the platform Twitter in live interviews.
older name still used in speech
After the rebrand, some fans kept their old Twitter account names.
The charity answered questions from parents on Twitter all evening.
文法句型
on Twitter
Twitter users
Twitter account
用法筆記
Use this when referring to the service under its earlier name or when reporting how people still talk about it. Distinguish from verb/3, which is about the act of posting there.