twitter

English

Etymology

Imitating the sound.

Noun

twitter (plural twitters)

1. The sound of a succession of chirps as uttered by birds.

   I often listen to the twitter of the birds in the park.

Translations

sound made by birds

Finnish: sirkutus (fi), laulu (fi) German: zwitschern (de) Portuguese: piar (pt)

Scottish Gaelic: ceilear (gd) m.

Verb

twitter (third-person singular simple present twitters, present participle twittering, simple past and past participle twittered)

1. (intransitive) To utter a succession of bird's chirps.
2. (intransitive) (of a person) To talk in an excited or nervous manner.
   • 2008, Cherie Blair, Speaking for Myself the autobiography:

     "Tony will be so cross," I twittered as we crawled through the traffic. "He'll probably just go."

3. (neologism, Internet) To use the microblogging service Twitter.
   • 2009 2 March, Justin Rebello, “Eight top-notch tips for the Twittering attorney"”, Wisconsin Law Journal, retrieved on 2009 March 2:

     Eight top-notch tips for the Twittering attorney

   • 2009 2 March, Michelle Levi, “McCain Criticizes Obama On The Senate Floor”, CBS News, retrieved on 2009 March 2:

     In addition to listing specific earmarks he finds the most reprehensible, McCain said he has been twittering the “top ten” most egregious

   • 2009 23 Feb, MSNBC, “Stars can’t stop Twittering at Oscars, parties”, Access Hollywood, retrieved on 2009 March 2:

     Stars can’t stop Twittering at Oscars, parties

Synonyms

• (internet neologism): tweet

Derived terms

• atwitter

Translations

to utter chirps

Finnish: sirkuttaa (fi)

German: zwitschern (de)

to speak nervously

Finnish: höpöttää (fi)

to use Twitter

Finnish: twiitata (fi)

German: twittern (de)