First recorded in 1350–1400.
Comes via Middle English from the Latin word tortuōsus, which derives from the verb torquēre, “to twist, bend.”
Sign up for more Word of the Day!

\r\nEXAMPLES OF TORTUOUS\r\n

The tortuous road through the mountains made for a challenging but scenic drive.
The author's writing style was known for its elegant prose and tortuous plot twists.

\r\nIt's National Poetry Month, and we’ve created a challenge that really is for everyone. Submit now!","audio":"https://static.sfdict.com/audio/T03/T0390200.mp3","definitions":[{"partofspeech":"adjective","data":"full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked."}],"examples":[],"imageUrl":"https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tortuous_IG.png","accentColor":"#0063D7"}},"status":"succeeded"}},"meta":{"requestId":"Vof5qlzAiMnWY0SUAIhA9","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"arch--e-","entry":"arche-"},{"slug":"archean","entry":"Archean"},{"slug":"archebanc","entry":"archebanc"},{"slug":"arched","entry":"arched"},{"slug":"arched-squall","entry":"arched squall"}],"after":[{"slug":"archegoniophore","entry":"archegoniophore"},{"slug":"archegonium","entry":"archegonium"},{"slug":"archencephalon","entry":"archencephalon"},{"slug":"archenemy","entry":"archenemy"},{"slug":"archenteron","entry":"archenteron"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arched-truss"},"requestId":"ico6uHZWbgG_oA6K8xKCX","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arched-truss"},"requestId":"mViro_WjSeJbv65Jt3GgW","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"arched truss","slug":"arched-truss"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a truss having an archlike form but unlike a true arch in that it is free to move horizontally at its base, as in expanding or contracting because of temperature changes.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":null,"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"arched-truss"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"arched-truss"},"requestId":"3arQGLJgwoFA_DiWprp7E","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"arched-truss","displayForm":"arched truss","canonicalSlug":"arched-truss","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e5bfe46.23a4","type":"normal","entry":"arched truss","entrySyllabified":"arched truss","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a truss having an archlike form but unlike a true arch in that it is free to move horizontally at its base, as in expanding or contracting because of temperature changes.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":["Compare braced arch. "],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":8432,"index-rank-01":["arched truss"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["arched truss'","arched truss's","arched trusses","arched trusses'"],"index-rank-05":[],"index-rank-06":[],"index-rank-07":[],"index-rank-08":[],"index-rank-09":[],"index-rank-10":[],"index-rank-11":[],"index-rank-12":[],"index-rank-13":[],"index-rank-14":[],"index-rank-15":[],"complexityScore":0.3841289863903884,"gradeLevel":"middle_school","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arched-truss"},"requestId":"Ts-Vf4jmyLxNIshb1ztqG","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arched-truss"},"requestId":"vRG-ykLFLqY60ZmeLyIKN","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

arched truss

noun

Word of the Day