torque
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a force that causes something to rotate or turn around a point.
n.the rotational equivalent of linear force, measured as the product of the force and the distance from the axis of rotation.
Simple“The engine produces a lot of torque, which helps the car accelerate quickly from a stop.”
In context“The mechanic applied additional torque to the bolt using a longer wrench, ensuring the wheel was securely fastened to the axle assembly.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the general physical property; countable when referring to a specific measurement.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a stiff, twisted metal ring worn around the neck by ancient people.
n.a large neck ring made of twisted metal, typically gold or bronze, worn by ancient Celts and other European peoples.
Simple“The museum displayed a heavy gold torque found in an ancient grave.”
In context“Archaeologists discovered a beautifully preserved silver torque, suggesting the burial site belonged to a high-ranking member of the local tribe.”
UsageOften spelled 'torc' in archaeological contexts.
Synonymscollarneck ring - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to twist or turn something using force.
v.to apply a rotational force to an object; to cause an object to rotate about an axis.
Simple“You need to torque the screws evenly so the lid fits perfectly.”
In context“The structural engineer specified that each bolt must be torqued to a precise value to maintain the integrity of the bridge span.”
UsageTransitive verb requiring a direct object.
“While the implementation bugged me, the concept made a certain degree of sense; most e-bikes now know your cadence, how much torque you’re generating, and how that power is being translated into speed.”
“Besides pulling material away from the star, those forces also apply torque, causing the star to rotate faster after each close encounter.”
Borrowed from Latin torqueō (“to twist”).
From French torque, from Old French, from Latin torquis; or adapted directly from Latin torquēs (“chaplet, collar, necklace of twisted metal, ring, wreath”) (cf. earlier English torques).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.