torque

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtȯrk 

1

: a force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion

an automobile engine delivers torque to the drive shaft

also : a measure of the effectiveness of such a force that consists of the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation

2

: a turning or twisting force

torque

2 of 3

verb

torqued; torquing

transitive verb

: to impart torque to : cause to twist (as about an axis)

torquer noun

torque

3 of 3

noun (2)

variants or torc

: a usually metal collar or neck chain worn by the ancient Gauls, Germans, and Britons

Examples of torque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Packing 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, the XC90 had plenty of get up and go. —Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2025

The Hurricane that replaced it has 420 horsepower and 469 foot-pounds of torque, while a high-output version of the Hurricane engine is rated at 540 horsepower and 521 foot-pounds of torque. —Michael Wayland, CNBC, 5 June 2025

Verb

Game 2 saw the physicality torqued up, and Toronto match Florida for hits. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025

He is rugged in the run game and offers the body fluidity and explosive power to torque and displace defenders. —Chad Graff, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin torquēre to twist

Noun (2)

French, from Latin torques, from torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1959, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1695, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing torque

• torque converter

Rhymes for torque

• bork
• dork
• fork
• pork
• stork
• pitchfork

Medical Definition

torque

1 of 2 noun

ˈtȯrk 

: a force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion

also : a measure of the effectiveness of such a force that consists of the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation

torque

2 of 2 transitive verb

torqued; torquing

: to impart torque to : cause to twist (as a tooth about its long axis)