torsion

(tôrs̸hən)

noun

  1. the process or condition of twisting or being twisted
  2. Mech.
    1. the stress or strain produced in a body, as a rod, wire, or thread, by turning one end along a longitudinal axis while the other end is held firm or twisted in the opposite direction
    2. the torque exerted by a body in reaction to being placed under torsion

Origin: ME torcion < MFr torsion < LL(Ec) torsio < pp. of L torquere, to twist: see tort

Related Forms:

See torsion in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. The act of twisting or turning.
    b. The condition of being twisted or turned.
  2. The stress or deformation caused when one end of an object is twisted in one direction and the other end is held motionless or twisted in the opposite direction.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English torcion, wringing pain in the bowels

Origin: , from Old French torsion

Origin: , from Late Latin torsiō, torsiōn-, a wringing pain

Origin: , variant of Latin tortiō

Origin: , from tortus

Origin: , past particple of torquēre, to twist; see torsade

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Related Forms:

  • torˈsion·al adjective
  • torˈsion·al·ly adverb

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