transitive verb

1. to twist out of shape; change the usual or normal shape, form, or appearance of
2. to misrepresent; misstate; pervert to distort the facts
3. to modify (a wave, sound, signal, etc.) so as to produce an unfaithful reproduction

Etymology: < L distortus, pp. of distorquere, distort < dis-, intens. + torquere, to twist: see tort