contort

UK: /kənˈtɔː^rt/ US: /kənˈtɔrt/ ,(kən tôrt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tort /kənˈtɔrt/   v. 

1. to (cause to) become twisted, bent, or strained: [no object]
   His face contorted with rage.
   [~ + object]
   Anger contorted his face.

See -tort-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tort  (kən tôrt′), v.t. 

1. to twist, bend, or draw out of shape;
   distort.

v.i. 

2. to become twisted, distorted, or strained:
   His face contorted into a grotesque sneer.

• Latin contortus twisted together, past participle of contorquēre. See con-, tort
• 1555–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

contort / kənˈtɔːt/ verb

1. to twist or bend severely out of place or shape, esp in a strained manner

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin contortus intricate, obscure, from contorquēre to whirl around, from torquēre to twist, wrench

conˈtortive adjective