torque

American  

[tawrk] / tɔrk /

noun

• torques
  plural

1. Mechanics. something that produces or tends to produce torsion or rotation; the moment of a force or system of forces tending to cause rotation.

2. Machinery. the measured ability of a rotating element, as of a gear or shaft, to overcome turning resistance.

3. Optics. the rotational effect on plane-polarized light passing through certain liquids or crystals.

4. Also torc a collar, necklace, or similar ornament consisting of a twisted narrow band, usually of precious metal, worn especially by the ancient Gauls and Britons.

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verb (used with object)

torqued, torquing

1. Machinery. to apply torque to (a nut, bolt, etc.).

2. to cause to rotate or twist.

verb (used without object)

torqued, torquing

1. to rotate or twist.

torque British  

/ tɔːk /

noun

1. Also: torc. a necklace or armband made of twisted metal, worn esp by the ancient Britons and Gauls

2. any force or system of forces that causes or tends to cause rotation

3. the ability of a shaft to cause rotation

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torque Scientific  

/ tôrk /

1. The tendency of a force applied to an object to make it rotate about an axis. For a force applied at a single point, the magnitude of the torque is equal to the magnitude of the force multiplied by the distance from its point of application to an axis of rotation. Torque is also a vector quantity, equal to the vector product of the vector pointing from the axis to the point of application of force and the vector of force; torque thus points upward from a counterclockwise rotation.

2. See also angular momentum lever

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• torques
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of torque

First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin torquēre “to twist”; torque def. 4 is from French torque, from Latin torques “collar” (the spelling torc is perhaps from Irish, ultimately from Latin ); see torques

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Explanation

If you have ever tightened a bolt with a wrench, or tried to get the lid off a jar of strawberry jam, then you have dealt with the concept of torque — a twisting action or a turning force. The word torque, which rhymes with fork, is used in the field of physics as a measure of rotational force. For example, how much strength does it take to move an object, such as a screwdriver, around an axis, such as a screw? In ancient times, a torque was a necklace made of twisted metal. Now, torque is commonly used to describe the power of sports cars and their ability to accelerate, since car engines operate with rotating parts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

torque torques torqued torquing

She said the Shark has “more power and torque than the legacy ICE rivals,” referring to the internal combustion engine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Superior torque means the electric versions get stuck less frequently than their diesel-powered counterparts, but photographer and guide Mark Dunsmuir said the real prize is the sound of life on the tundra.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

They recorded how the sprinklers rotated, observed the water moving both inside and outside the devices, and measured the torque or twisting force produced when the sprinklers were prevented from turning.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

“But I do think once he’s out there playing catch and we see how his knee responds to the pressure, the torque will be some good information.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2026

With a jet engine there is no torque, so your feet are not nearly as busy and you can concentrate on other things.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins

However, Mach's explanation could not account for the reverse rotations and torques measured during the new experiments.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

Computer simulations that applied realistic forces and torques confirmed this behavior and showed that plectoneme formation depends on DNA's ability to transmit twist along its length.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 9, 2026

Ultimately, though, the author torques her contrarianism past trolling, past knee-jerk philosophizing and past satire, alchemizing a critique of literary culture in all its ideological waywardness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2023

Some of the white terracotta tiles that cover the building’s facade were haphazardly installed, wrecking the precise geometries of a design that ripples and torques.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2023

“Lord Bowen, you shall collect the tolls. The gold and silver, the amber, the torques and armbands and necklaces. Sort it all, count it, see that it reaches Eastwatch safely.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Argentine lifestyle impresario Alan Faena opened his namesake New York hotel late last year in the bottom of a torqued high rise by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

In other words, this occasionally meandering, openly life-affirming confection is in direct contrast to the torqued and tortured “Black Swan.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2023

In December, a Tesla supplier implemented improved process controls along with improved training and supervision to ensure bolts are torqued to specifications, the automaker said.

From Reuters ● Mar. 4, 2023

The dancers’ physicality was arresting as they torqued their backs and torsos, melting onto the floor and swooping back up again with a feverish vivacity.

From New York Times ● Dec. 2, 2022

There was a grinding shudder—then a twisted ship which looked as if some giant had taken a wet rag and torqued it to squeeze out the water.

From A Woman's Place by Mark Clifton

He self-referentially calls himself “that sadistic letter-abuser, Douglas R. Hofstadter,” and there is indeed a lot of vigorous torquing of serifs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

Wilson claims it designed a tool to install bolts and fasteners on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner starting in 2012, and alleged that misuse of its stolen torquing tool led to leaks aboard the International Space Station.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023

The truth is that you’re more likely to break your stemware by knocking it against the sink or torquing the handle as you scrub the bowl.

From New York Times ● Dec. 31, 2022

The chronic lower back pain that dogged the late stage of his career has subsided, flaring up only if he makes moves that trigger the damage of decades of torquing to stave off G-forces.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 15, 2019

“Anya, look!” he said, torquing his arm back and forth.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

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