warp
to bend or twist out of shape, especially from a straight or flat form, as timbers or flooring.
to bend or turn from the natural or true direction or course.
Aeronautics. to curve or bend (a wing or other airfoil) at the end or ends to promote equilibrium or to secure lateral control.
Nautical. to move (a vessel) into a desired place or position by hauling on a rope that has been fastened to something fixed, as a buoy or anchor.
Agriculture. to fertilize (land) by inundation with water that deposits alluvial matter.
to become bent or twisted out of shape, especially out of a straight or flat form: The wood has warped in drying.
to be or become biased; hold or change an opinion due to prejudice, external influence, or the like.
Nautical.
to warp a ship or boat into position.
(of a ship or boat) to move by being warped.
(of a stratum in the earth's crust) to bend slightly, to a degree that no fold or fault results.
a bend, twist, or variation from a straight or flat form in something, as in wood that has dried unevenly.
a mental twist, bias, or quirk, or a biased or twisted attitude or judgment.
the set of yarns placed lengthwise in the loom, crossed by and interlaced with the weft, and forming the lengthwise threads in a woven fabric.
a situation, environment, etc., that seems characteristic of another era, especially in being out of touch with contemporary life or attitudes, etc.
Also called spring, spring line .Nautical. a rope for warping or hauling a ship or boat along or into position.
alluvial matter deposited by water, especially water let in to inundate low land so as to enrich it.
Origin of warp
1Other words for warp
Opposites for warp
Other words from warp
- warp·age, noun
- un·warp·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use warp in a sentence
In a sheet, threads are woven into vertical strands referred to as the warp weave and horizontal strands referred to as the weft weave.
Best sheets: Choose the right bed linens for a good night’s sleep | Carsen Joenk | December 18, 2020 | Popular-Science"It might be," said Shorty, with visions of distributing hardtack to the hungry boys warping his judgment.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6) | John McElroyGreat beams ran through, called "warping bars," where the various warp threads were measured and cut for the loom.
That Old-Time Child, Roberta | Sophie Fox SeaThere was no way of effecting this passage, except by towing or warping the vessels; and this rendered the attempt impracticable.
The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson | Robert SoutheyHis claws were buried in her neck at the first dash; and his long body covered hers—his hind-legs and tail warping around her.
The Desert Home | Mayne Reid
The second was the ingenious wing-warping device, for securing stability.
The Romance of Aircraft | Lawrence Yard Smith
British Dictionary definitions for warp
/ (wɔːp) /
to twist or cause to twist out of shape, as from heat, damp, etc
to turn or cause to turn from a true, correct, or proper course
to pervert or be perverted
(tr) to prepare (yarn) as a warp
nautical to move (a vessel) by hauling on a rope fixed to a stationary object ashore or (of a vessel) to be moved thus
(tr) (formerly) to curve or twist (an aircraft wing) in order to assist control in flight
(tr) to flood (land) with water from which alluvial matter is deposited
the state or condition of being twisted out of shape
a twist, distortion, or bias
a mental or moral deviation
the yarns arranged lengthways on a loom, forming the threads through which the weft yarns are woven
the heavy threads used to reinforce the rubber in the casing of a pneumatic tyre
nautical a rope used for warping a vessel
alluvial sediment deposited by water
Origin of warp
1Derived forms of warp
- warpage, noun
- warped, adjective
- warper, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with warp
In addition to the idiom beginning with warp
- warp and woof
also see:
- time warp
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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