tr.v., -tort·ed, -tort·ing, -torts.
- To twist out of a proper or natural relation of parts; misshape.
- To give a false or misleading account of; misrepresent.
- To cause to work in a twisted or disorderly manner; pervert.
[Latin distorquēre, distort- : dis-, apart; see dis- + torquēre, to twist.]
distorter dis·tort'er n.SYNONYMS distort, twist, deform, contort, warp. These verbs mean to alter the form or character of something, usually disadvantageously. To distort is to change the physical shape of something, as by torsion or exaggeration of certain features, or to misconstrue the meaning of something: "The human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of things" (Francis Bacon). Twist applies to distortion of form or meaning: twisted his mouth in pain; accused me of twisting her words. Deform refers to change that disfigures and often implies the loss of desirable qualities such as beauty: erosion that deformed the landscape. Contort implies violent change that produces unnatural or grotesque effects: contorted her face with rage. Warp can refer to turning from a flat or straight form or from a true course or direction: floorboards that had warped over the years; judgment warped by prejudice.
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