English Explanatory Dictionary

torsion

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The act of turning or twisting, or the state of being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.
  2. A finite order element of a group that, when raised to a positive integer power results in the identity element of the group.
  3. An element of a homology or cohomology group for which there exists a non-zero integer that, when the element is multiplied by that integer, yields zero.
  4. A type of holistic complimentary medicine that involves balancing theoretical energy fields through energy healing, meditation, and similar practices.
  5. That force with which a thread, wire, or rod of any material returns, or tends to return, to a state of rest after it has been twisted; torsibility.
  6. The stopping of arterial haemorrhage in certain cases, by twisting the cut end of the artery.
verb
  1. To subject to torsion.

Pronunciation

/ˈtɔː.ʃən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-torsion.wav /ˈtor.ʃɪn/ /ˈtor.ʒɪn/ /ˈtor.ʃən/ /ˈtor.ʒən/

Word forms

torsion torsions torsioning torsioned

Etymology

From Middle English torcion, from Middle French torsion, from Late Latin torsiōnem, from Latin tortiō, from torqueō (“twist, turn”). See torture, -tort.

Related words

torque torse tortuosity tortuousness volvulus

Derived words

angle of torsion cotorsion cyclotorsion detorse detorsion hypertorsion moment of torsion torsional torsionally torsion angle torsion balance torsion bar torsion catapult torsion field torsionful torsionic torsionless torsionmeter torsion pendulum torsion scale torsion spring torsion subgroup torsion wrench
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