1
: a force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion
an automobile engine delivers torque to the drive shaft
also
: a measure of the effectiveness of such a force that consists of the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation
2
: a turning or twisting force
torqued; torquing
: to impart torque to : cause to twist (as about an axis)
torquer
noun
variants
or torc
: a usually metal collar or neck chain worn by the ancient Gauls, Germans, and Britons
Examples of torque in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 25 Apr. 2024
The performance trim of the company’s top-selling electric sedan will get 510 horsepower and 741 Nm of torque — a step above the 470 horsepower that was achievable in the 2019 performance trim — and can hit a top speed of 163 mph.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2024
The new system distributes wheel slip management to each individual electric motor, reducing torque reaction from 100 milliseconds to a single millisecond giving drivers even more control over icy and slippery conditions.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
The truck’s engine outputs up to 754 hp and produces 785 foot pounds of torque.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024
So the rotor shaft, is that different from the motor shaft, the actual torque shaft?
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Apr. 2024
However, Molden said that, without intervention, the EV transition stands to worsen tire pollution because EVs allow drivers to apply more torque to tires and EV batteries increase the weight of the vehicles − both factors that contribute to tire wear.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
For $10 more per month than the SE lease, Hyundai will lease you a Kona Electric SEL that produces more exciting numbers like 201 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, and has a bigger 64.8-kWh battery that’s rated for a maximum range of 261 miles.
—Logan Carter / Jalopnik, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024
The car's stats are also mind-bending, even without an electric motor: zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds; 740 horsepower; 590 lb-ft of torque.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
Gisele Lamarre, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024
But an alternative is that Mimas' rocky core is oddly shaped, creating an opportunity for the gravitational pull of Saturn and the other moons to torque it somewhat differently each orbit.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 Feb. 2024
Hubble uses spinning reaction wheels to torque the spacecraft in large movements from one direction to another.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
Tork torques his torque Of course, not all the stats for the Tigers are bad.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 24 Apr. 2023
Yeah, these wheel guns are a cut above your average impact wrench that your local mechanic uses to torque your wheel lugs within an inch of their life.
—Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2023
Dabiri says there is reason to expect the opposite, since wakes often hit rotors unevenly, torquing their components.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Mar. 2023
But in some cases the bolt that holds the steering wheel in place might not have been properly torqued.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2023
Power is increased marginally, as well, from 402 hp (300 kW) to 416 hp (310 kW), and torque a little more substantially from 486 lb-ft (660 Nm) to 546 lb-ft (740 Nm).
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2023
Noun
Rated at 540 horsepower, 521 pound-feet of torque 0-60 in 4.6 seconds; 0-100 mph in 11.7 seconds
Quarter mile in 13.1 seconds at 105 mph
Top speed of 118 mph
MPG of 15 (city), 21 (highway), 17 (combined)
Max towing of 8,380 pounds; max payload of 1,520 pounds
Up to 32 inches of water fording.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 25 Apr. 2024
The performance trim of the company’s top-selling electric sedan will get 510 horsepower and 741 Nm of torque — a step above the 470 horsepower that was achievable in the 2019 performance trim — and can hit a top speed of 163 mph.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2024
The new system distributes wheel slip management to each individual electric motor, reducing torque reaction from 100 milliseconds to a single millisecond giving drivers even more control over icy and slippery conditions.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
The truck’s engine outputs up to 754 hp and produces 785 foot pounds of torque.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024
So the rotor shaft, is that different from the motor shaft, the actual torque shaft?
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Apr. 2024
However, Molden said that, without intervention, the EV transition stands to worsen tire pollution because EVs allow drivers to apply more torque to tires and EV batteries increase the weight of the vehicles − both factors that contribute to tire wear.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
For $10 more per month than the SE lease, Hyundai will lease you a Kona Electric SEL that produces more exciting numbers like 201 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, and has a bigger 64.8-kWh battery that’s rated for a maximum range of 261 miles.
—Logan Carter / Jalopnik, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024
The car's stats are also mind-bending, even without an electric motor: zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds; 740 horsepower; 590 lb-ft of torque.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024
Verb
Headrests flew away, and frames were torqued on two seats, Homendy said.
—Gisele Lamarre, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024
But an alternative is that Mimas' rocky core is oddly shaped, creating an opportunity for the gravitational pull of Saturn and the other moons to torque it somewhat differently each orbit.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 Feb. 2024
Hubble uses spinning reaction wheels to torque the spacecraft in large movements from one direction to another.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
Tork torques his torque Of course, not all the stats for the Tigers are bad.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 24 Apr. 2023
Yeah, these wheel guns are a cut above your average impact wrench that your local mechanic uses to torque your wheel lugs within an inch of their life.
—Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2023
Dabiri says there is reason to expect the opposite, since wakes often hit rotors unevenly, torquing their components.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Mar. 2023
But in some cases the bolt that holds the steering wheel in place might not have been properly torqued.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2023
Power is increased marginally, as well, from 402 hp (300 kW) to 416 hp (310 kW), and torque a little more substantially from 486 lb-ft (660 Nm) to 546 lb-ft (740 Nm).
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'torque.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near torque
Cite this Entry
“Torque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torque. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
torque
1 of 2 noun
: a force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion
also
: a measure of the effectiveness of such a force that consists of the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation
torque
2 of 2 transitive verb
torqued; torquing
: to impart torque to : cause to twist (as a tooth about its long axis)
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