torsion

tor·sion | \ ˈtȯr-shən

Definition of torsion

1 : the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of forces tending to turn one end or part about a longitudinal axis while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction also : the state of being twisted

2 : the twisting of a bodily organ or part on its own axis

3 : the reactive torque that an elastic solid exerts by reason of being under torsion

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Examples of torsion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That provided just enough torsion in the fastener and friction between the pages to keep everything together. — Popular Science, "Twelve classic products that were perfect from the start," 12 Apr. 2020 Like the Kona, opting for all-wheel drive brings an independent multilink rear suspension in place of the front-drive version's simpler rear torsion-beam system. — Mike Sutton, Car and Driver, "Kia’s 2021 Seltos Is Attractive and Practical," 17 Feb. 2020 Ovarian torsion is hard thing to diagnose unless your ovary torques in the very moment when you’re being evaluated. — Megan Ditrolio, Marie Claire, "I Started a Company to Pay Off the Cost of Freezing My Eggs," 23 Jan. 2020 In the research paper, the scientists demonstrated the effects of twist, also referred to as torsion, on a very small scale. — Jordan Wilkerson, Dallas News, "UT Dallas researchers create fridges with a twist," 23 Jan. 2020 For that reason, n0.5 is considered the trivial bound on n-torsion in the class group. — Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, "New Number Systems Seek Their Lost Primes," 2 Mar. 2017 Ovary torsion requires emergency surgery to preserve the ovary, and if necessary, remove it. — Kirsten Slyter, Bon Appétit, "Learning to Eat for My Endometriosis When Answers Are Scarce," 11 Nov. 2019 The Cohen-Lenstra predictions with respect to torsion are quite easy to state. — Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, "New Number Systems Seek Their Lost Primes," 2 Mar. 2017 Their approach was to use a torsion balance, a pendulum-type balance that measures the amount of torque applied to the axis of the pendulum. — Daniel Oberhaus, WIRED, "A Mythical Form of Space Propulsion Finally Gets a Real Test," 5 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'torsion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Torsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torsion. Accessed 5 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for torsion

torsion

noun

English Language Learners Definition of torsion

technical : the twisting of something (such as a piece of metal)

See the full definition for torsion in the English Language Learners Dictionary

torsion

noun

tor·sion | \ ˈtȯr-shən

Medical Definition of torsion

1 : the twisting of a bodily organ or part on its own axis intestinal torsion

2 : the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of forces tending to turn one end or part about a longitudinal axis while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction also : the state of being twisted