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contort

con·tort
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kuh n-tawrt]
    • /kənˈtɔrt/
    • /kənˈtɔːt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kuh n-tawrt]
    • /kənˈtɔrt/

Definitions of contort word

  • verb contort If someone's face or body contorts or is contorted, it moves into an unnatural and unattractive shape or position. 3
  • verb contort to twist or bend severely out of place or shape, esp in a strained manner 3
  • verb transitive contort to twist or wrench out of its usual form into one that is grotesque; distort violently 3
  • verb with object contort to twist, bend, or draw out of shape; distort. 1
  • verb without object contort to become twisted, distorted, or strained: His face contorted into a grotesque sneer. 1
  • noun contort Twist or bend out of its normal shape. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of contort

First appearance:

before 1555
One of the 31% oldest English words
1555-65; < Latin contortus twisted together, past participle of contorquēre. See con-, tort

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Contort

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

contort popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 78% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

contort usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for contort

verb contort

  • writhe — to twist the body about, or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, etc.
  • deform — If something deforms a person's body or something else, it causes it to have an unnatural shape. In technical English, you can also say that the second thing deforms.
  • convolute — to form into a twisted, coiled, or rolled shape
  • torture — the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.
  • curve — A curve is a smooth, gradually bending line, for example part of the edge of a circle.

Antonyms for contort

verb contort

  • straighten — make straight
  • beautify — If you beautify something, you make it look more beautiful.
  • smooth — free from projections or unevenness of surface; not rough: smooth wood; a smooth road.

Top questions with contort

  • what does contort mean?
  • how to contort?
  • how to contort your body?

See also

Matching words

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