Added to
Favorites
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Word Dynamo
Quotes
Reference
Translator
Spanish
Log In
Sign Up
Introducing a cool
new way to learn!
contort
Use
Contort
in a sentence
con·tort
/
kənˈtɔrt
/
Show Spelled
[
k
uh
n-
tawrt
]
Show IPA
verb (used with object)
1.
to twist, bend, or draw out of shape; distort.
verb (used without object)
2.
to become twisted, distorted, or strained:
His face contorted into a grotesque sneer.
Origin:
1555–65;
<
Latin
contortus
twisted together, past participle of
contorquēre.
See
con-
,
tort
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To
contort
Collins
World English Dictionary
contort
(kənˈtɔːt)
—
vb
to twist or bend severely out of place or shape, esp in a strained manner
[C15: from Latin
contortus
intricate, obscure, from
contorquēre
to whirl around, from
torquēre
to twist, wrench]
con'tortive
—
adj
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Relevant Questions
What Is A Contortion?
What Is Contorted?
How To Grow Contorted Fi...
What Is A Contortion?
How To Grow Contorted Fi...
What Is Contorted?
00:10
Contort
is always a great word to know.
So is
conformation
. Does it mean:
So is
confiscate
. Does it mean:
So is
consecrate
. Does it mean:
to shake violently
Manner of formation; structure; form, as of a physical entity. the act or process of conforming; adaptation; adjustment.
to take with authority
The action of the air molecules moving closer together.
to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity:
intricate, complicated
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
contort
1622, from L. contortus, prp. of contorquere "to whirl, twist," from com- "together" + torquere "to twist" (see
thwart
). Related: Contorted (pp. adj., 1620s).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
But you can't
contort
your way through the back door, which is basically what they are trying to do.
The fact that it is possible to so
contort
a plant is no justification for doing it.
After watching the party
contort
its policies and its principles, voters concluded it was not such a good idea.
Rolfers gouge with knuckles and knead with fists,
contort
limbs and lean into elbows to loosen tendons and ligaments.
McCoy would have us ignore this clear direction altogether, or
contort
its meaning beyond recognition.
They have to really
contort
their minds to accept a devastating storm, that kills good people and lets bad ones survive.
Constant strong winds in alpine areas can
contort
the trunk and cause stunting.
The facial muscles twitch and
contort
, as if pummeled by a hail of invisible darts.
Don't let them face you into the sun, it will
contort
your face and make you squint.
Some fears about the cleanup were so strongly felt and so pervasive that the response had to
contort
itself around them.
Want contort ad-free? Click here!
Related Words
writhe
blubber
face
gnarl
screw
sneer
squinch
warp
MORE
Quote Of The Day
"The child does not begin to fall until she becomes seriously interested in walking, until ..."
-Polly Berrien Berends
MORE
Related Searches
Contortion
Extreme contortion
Contortionist
Contortionist traini...
Contortion models
Pillage
Writhe
Contortion for begin...
Nearby Words
continuously
continuously va...
continuously va...
continuously va...
continuousness
continuum
continuum hypo ...
continuum hypo-...
continuum hypot...
continuum hypot...
continuum-hypot...
contline
contn.
conto
contoid
contopus
contopus sordid...
contopus virens
contorniate
contorsion
contort
contorted
contortedly
contortedness
contortion
contortion'isti...
contortional
contortioned
contortionist
contortionistic
contortive
contortuplicate
contour
contour cur tai...
contour cur-tai...
contour curtain
contour farming
contour feather
contour integra...
contour interva...
contour languag...
Synonyms
torture
writhe
twist
curve
wind
bend
knot
MORE
Synonym Game
deform
writhe
wind
twist
wrench
PLAY
Partners:
Word
Bloglines
Citysearch
The Daily Beast
Ask Answers
Ask Kids
Life123
Sendori
Home Advisor
Copyright ©
2013 Dictionary.com, LLC
. All rights reserved.
About
PRIVACY POLICY
Terms
API
Careers
Advertise with Us
Contact Us
Suggest a Word
Help
Please
Login
or
Sign Up
to use the Favorites feature
Please
Login
or
Sign Up
to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT