different between labyrinthine vs twisting

English

Etymology

From labyrinth +? -ine.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /læb.????n.??n/, /læb.????n.?in/, /læb.????n.?a?n/
• ,

Adjective

labyrinthine (comparative more labyrinthine, superlative most labyrinthine)

1. Physically resembling a labyrinth; with the qualities of a maze.
   • 1996, Steen L. Jensen, H. Gregerson. M. H. Shokouh-Amin, F. G. Moody, (eds.), Essentials of Experimental Surgery: Gastroenterology, page 27/4

     In the pyloric canal, muscular ridges are more fixed than elsewhere and produce quite a labyrinthine surface.

   • 2011, Lincoln Child, Deep Storm, page 185

     Crane trotted along the labyrinthine corridors of deck 3, accompanied by a young marine with close-cropped blond hair.

2. (anatomy) Relating to the labyrinth of the ear
3. (figuratively) Convoluted, baffling, confusing, perplexing.
   • 2000, Joseph J. Ellis, Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, page 51

     Any attempt to answer that question would carry us into the labyrinthine corridors of Jefferson's famously elusive mind.

   • 2005, Michael W. Riley, "Plato's Cratylus: Argument, form, and structure", page 103

     By coupling "essence" with "name" within a series of contraposed pairs of names, Socrates indicates the point to which he thinks his labyrinthine argument has led so far in the Cratylus.

Synonyms

• (resembling a labyrinth): labyrinthal, labyrinthial, labyrinthian, labyrinthic, labyrinthical, labyrinthiform
• (twisting, convoluted): baffling, confusing, convoluted

Related terms

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?tw?st??/

Verb

twisting

1. present participle of twist

Noun

twisting (countable and uncountable, plural twistings)

1. (countable) gerund of twist
   • 1984, Theodore R. Sizer, Horace's Compromise: The Dilemma of the American High School

     She was oblivious of all around her, and her facial twistings and scrunchings were droll.

2. (uncountable) The disreputable practice of selling unnecessary insurance to a customer in order to earn commission.
   • 1985, The Federal Reporter (second series, volume 756, page 219):

     Twisting benefits an insurance agent while damaging the customer. The agent benefits because the commission earned on the sale of a new health insurance policy is substantially higher than that earned on the renewal of an existing policy.

Adjective

twisting

1. Having many twists

   The mountain road is even more twisting than the valley road.

Translations