abbr. Technical and vocational educational initiative.

archaic it was. [contraction]

n. Coarse slang 1 female genitals.

- contemptible person. [origin unknown]

adj. (tweer; tweest) derog. Affectedly dainty or quaint. [a childish pronunciation of *sweet]

n. Very small thin branch of a tree or shrub. twiggy adj. [old english]

- v. (-gg-) colloq. Understand; realize. [origin unknown]

bed n. Each of a pair of single beds. twin-bedded adj.

- set n. Woman's matching cardigan and jumper.

- town n. Town twinned with another.

- —n. - each of a closely related or associated pair, esp. Of children or animals born at a birth.

- exact counterpart of a person or thing.

- (the twins) zodiacal sign or constellation gemini. —adj. Forming, or being one of, such a pair (twin brothers). —v. (-nn-) 1 a join intimately together. B (foll. By with) pair.

- bear twins.

- link (a town) with one in a different country, for friendship and cultural exchange. twinning n. [old english: related to *two]

n. Slang foolish person. [originally dial., perhaps from *twit2]

- v. (-tt-) reproach or taunt, usu. Good-humouredly. [old english]

n. (also tike) 1 unpleasant or coarse man.

- small child. [old norse]

—n. - sort, class, or kind.

- person, thing, or event exemplifying a class or group.

- (in comb.) Made of, resembling, or functioning as (ceramic-type material; cheddar-type cheese).

- colloq. Person, esp. Of a specified character (a quiet type; not my type).

- object, conception, or work of art, serving as a model for subsequent artists.

- printing a piece of metal etc. With a raised letter or character on its upper surface for printing. B kind or size of such pieces (printed in large type). C set or supply of these (ran short of type). —v. (-ping) 1 write with a typewriter.

- typecast.

- esp. Biol. & med. Assign to a type; classify. [greek tupos impression]

n. (pl. -s) colloq. Typographical error. [abbreviation]