torque

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtȯrk 

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

torque

2 of 3

verb

torqued; torquing

transitive verb

: to impart torque to : cause to twist (as about an axis)

torquer noun

torque

3 of 3

noun (2)

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

Noun

That change, along with a slew of other upgrades, boosted power by 40 percent to 1,025 hp and 945 ft lbs of torque. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 30 June 2025

Powered by the ever-popular Honda i-VTEC engine, which produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, the 9-speed automatic transmission was quiet and had no issues getting up and going. —Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025

Verb

And so will the unruly demands and desires that come with growing up, torqued by successes and failures. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025

Game 2 saw the physicality torqued up, and Toronto match Florida for hits. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin torquēre to twist

Noun (2)

French, from Latin torques, from torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1959, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1695, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing torque

• torque converter

Rhymes for torque

• bork
• dork
• fork
• pork
• stork
• pitchfork

Medical Definition

torque

1 of 2 noun

ˈtȯrk 

: 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)