torsion

T1O1R1S1I1O1N1
UK/ˈtɔː.ʃən/US/ˈtor.ʃɪn/US/ˈtor.ʒɪn/US/ˈtor.ʃən/

noun

The act of turning or twisting, or the state of being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.

Less commonScrabble 7

Meanings

nountorsion (countable and uncountable, plural torsions)

plural torsions

  1. countableuncountableThe act of turning or twisting, or the state of being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.
  2. countableuncountablemathematicsA finite order element of a group that, when raised to a positive integer power results in the identity element of the group.
  3. countableuncountablemathematicsAn element of a homology or cohomology group for which there exists a non-zero integer that, when the element is multiplied by that integer, yields zero.
  4. countableuncountablemedicineA type of holistic complimentary medicine that involves balancing theoretical energy fields through energy healing, meditation, and similar practices.
  5. countableuncountableengineeringThat force with which a thread, wire, or rod of any material returns, or tends to return, to a state of rest after it has been twisted; torsibility.
  6. countableuncountablemedicineThe stopping of arterial haemorrhage in certain cases, by twisting the cut end of the artery.
verbtorsion (third-person singular simple present torsions, present participle torsioning, simple past and past participle torsioned)

present singular third person torsions · participle present torsioning · participle past torsioned · past torsioned

  1. transitiveTo subject to torsion.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna tortuous and twisted shape or position

Broader
distorted shapedistortion

nouna twisting force

Similar
Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latintortiō
  2. Late Latintorsiōnem
  3. Middle Frenchtorsion
  4. Middle Englishtorcion
  5. Englishtorsion

From Middle English torcion, from Middle French torsion, from Late Latin torsiōnem, from Latin tortiō, from torqueō (“twist, turn”). See torture, -tort.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian извиване, усукване
  • извиване (izvivane)the act of turning or twisting
  • усукване (usukvane)the act of turning or twisting
  • усукваща сила (usukvašta sila)that force with which a thread, wire, or rod tends to return to a state of rest after it has been twisted
Catalan torsió
  • torsióthe act of turning or twisting
Danish torsion
  • torsionthe act of turning or twisting
Finnish vääntö, kierto
  • vääntöthe act of turning or twisting
  • kiertothe act of turning or twisting
  • kierevyysin mathematics
German Windung, Windungen
  • Windungthe act of turning or twisting
  • Windungenthe act of turning or twisting
Greek συστροφή
  • συστροφή (systrofí)the act of turning or twisting
Hindi मरोड़, विमोटन
  • मरोड़ (maroṛ)the act of turning or twisting
  • विमोटन (vimoṭan)the act of turning or twisting
  • ऐंठन (a͠iṭhan)the act of turning or twisting
  • मरोड़ (maroṛ)that force with which a thread, wire, or rod tends to return to a state of rest after it has been twisted
  • विमोटन (vimoṭan)that force with which a thread, wire, or rod tends to return to a state of rest after it has been twisted
  • ऐंठन (a͠iṭhan)that force with which a thread, wire, or rod tends to return to a state of rest after it has been twisted
Italian torsione
  • torsionethe act of turning or twisting
Korean 말림
  • 말림 (mallim)the act of turning or twisting
Norwegian Bokmål torsjon
  • torsjonthe act of turning or twisting
Portuguese torção
  • torçãothe act of turning or twisting
Russian скручивание
  • скручивание (skručivanije)the act of turning or twisting
Spanish torsión, elasticidad
  • torsiónthe act of turning or twisting
  • elasticidadthat force with which a thread, wire, or rod tends to return to a state of rest after it has been twisted
Swedish torsion
  • torsionthe act of turning or twisting
Turkish burkulma, burulma
  • burkulmathe act of turning or twisting
  • burulmathat force with which a thread, wire, or rod tends to return to a state of rest after it has been twisted

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

torsion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/torsion

MLA

“torsion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/torsion. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “torsion,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/torsion.

Source: torsion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.