warp

noun \ ˈwȯrp \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: warp in a Sentence

Definition of warp

1 a : a series of yarns extended lengthwise in a loom and crossed by the weft

b : foundation, base

the warp of the economic structure is agriculture
—Amer. Guide Series: N.C.

2 : a rope for warping or mooring a ship or boat

[²warp]

a : a twist or curve that has developed in something originally flat or straight

a warp in a door panel

b : a mental aberration

—

warpage

play \ˈwȯr-pij\ noun

See warp defined for English-language learners

See warp defined for kids

Examples of warp in a Sentence

There's a warp in the floorboards.
an unshakable belief in the essential goodness of humankind is the warp of his philosophy

Recent Examples of warp from the Web

But Bourdain’s brashness came with an immense humility that really made up the warp and weft of his TV shows.

— kanishk tharoor, The Atlantic, "Anthony Bourdain’s Extreme Empathy," 10 June 2018
Yet the argument isn't simply swayed by a time-warp.

— shawn windsor, Detroit Free Press, "Michael Jordan's mystique clouds our memories: LeBron is the G.O.A.T," 29 May 2018
There was the quick exit from Shogun World (via warp tube), Bernard plugging his brain-pearl into the mainframe, and Dolores and Evil Teddy riding the train of destiny together.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Westworld: From Cradle to Grave," 28 May 2018
That begins with episode 1, where an undersupplied, sloppily staffed Cruiser goes through a mysterious warp zone and immediately comes under attack from insidiously clever aliens.

— noel murray, The Verge, "After Solo: A Star Wars Story, spend half an hour in Paul Feig’s Other Space," 25 May 2018
The time-warp ambience seems less studied and self-conscious in nearby Richis, where Rost introduces me to a wisecracking 85-year-old named Hans Schaas.

— christopher bagley, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Bewitching Time Warp of Transylvania, Romania," 4 May 2018
But while the district’s central thoroughfare, Grant Avenue, lined with sleepy gift shops, remains frozen in a tourist-trap time-warp, new signs of life were stirring in the area even before China Live opened last spring.

— jay cheshes, WSJ, "A Feasting Guide to San Francisco’s Newly Glam Chinatown," 2 May 2018
If Season 1's multiple timeline twist left your head spinning, then Season 2 is a total mind warp.

— kayleigh roberts, Marie Claire, "A Brief Guide to All the Timelines Playing Out in 'Westworld' Season 2," 30 Apr. 2018
By repositioning the dye-resistant thread before every immersion, textile makers gradually cover the entirety of the warp in an array of different tones.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "How the Technicolor Ikat Designs of Central Asia Thread Into Textile History," 26 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of warp

Middle English, from Old English wearp; akin to Old High German warf warp, Old English weorpan to throw, Old Norse verpa

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

warp Synonyms

Synonyms

base, basis, bedrock, bottom, cornerstone, footing, foundation, ground, groundwork, keystone, root, underpinning, warp and woof;

assumption, justification, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, rationale, supposition, theory, thesis, warrant;

backbone, center, core, cornerstone, eye, focus, heart, hub, kernel, keystone, nucleus, seat;

essence, quintessence, soul, touchstone;

Other Textiles Terms

batt, bias, brocade, duck, flock, lawn, toile

warp

verb

Definition of warp

warped; warping; warps

transitive verb

1 : to arrange (yarns) so as to form a warp

2 a : to turn or twist out of or as if out of shape; especially : to twist or bend out of a plane

b : to cause to judge, choose, or act wrongly or abnormally : pervert

c : distort

intellect and learning … warped by prejudices
—Irving Wallace

warps space and time

d : to deflect from a course

3 : to move (something, such as a ship) by hauling on a line attached to a fixed object

intransitive verb

1 : to become warped

2 : to move a ship by warping

—

warper

noun

See warp defined for English-language learners

Examples of warp in a Sentence

The wood was warped by moisture.
The heat caused the wood to warp.
He held prejudices that warped his judgment.

Recent Examples of warp from the Web

Misty was a one-time love interest for Luke Cage (born Carl Lucas and warped in a prison experiment gone wrong) in the first season of Marvel's Luke Cage, but her character is no longer romantically involved with him.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Marvel's Luke Cage Meets Iron Fist In This Exclusive Clip," 4 June 2018
So much so that the grate warped after half an hour at full blast.

— joe jackson, Outside Online, "The Best Portable Camp Grills," 1 June 2018
The loose threads, discoloration, sagging elastic, and warped padding don't make for a good look.

— halie lesavage, Glamour, "How to Make Your Swimsuits Last Until Next Summer," 24 May 2018
Different people have different preferences and there's always the terrifying possibility that your message will be warped by the receiver's operating system or carrier.

— taylor lorenz, The Atlantic, "The One Emoji That Means True Love," 16 May 2018
Ironically, those measures may have a far greater warping effect on Texas elections than the handful of voter-fraud cases found so far.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "Texas’s voter-fraud crusade sends a mother of two to prison for five years.," 30 Mar. 2018
Like so many Bachelor villains before him, he was engineered by the show, warped and edited to fit neatly into a role.

— krystin arneson, Glamour, "Arie Luyendyk Jr. Says His Bachelor Experience Was 'Super Unfair'," 28 May 2018
Like so many Bachelor villains before him, he was engineered by the show, warped and edited to fit neatly into a role.

— rebecca nelson, GQ, "The Most Hated Bachelor in America Explains Himself," 27 May 2018
Like Thomson-Spires’ women, (mostly) invisible aches and chronic frustrations are what has warped these souls.

— brittany allen, Longreads, "Masters of Contradiction," 24 May 2018

First Known Use of warp

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

warp Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of warp

deform, distort, contort, warp means to mar or spoil by or as if by twisting. deform may imply a change of shape through stress, injury, or accident of growth.

- a face deformed by hatred

distort and contort both imply a wrenching from the natural or normal, but contort suggests a more involved twisting and a more grotesque and painful result.

- the odd camera angle distorts the figure
- disease had contorted her body

warp indicates an uneven shrinking that bends or twists out of a flat plane.

- warped floorboards

WARP Defined for English Language Learners

warp

noun

Definition of warp for English Language Learners

: a twist or curve in something that is usually flat or straight
: the threads that run up and down on a loom or in a woven fabric

warp

verb

Definition of warp for English Language Learners

: to twist or bend (something) into a different shape
: to cause (a person's opinions, thoughts, etc.) to be changed in a way that is wrong or unnatural