torque
noun

- a force that causes something to rotate (= turn in a circle)

- a twisting force that causes machines, etc. to rotate … the more torque… the bigger the load it can pull in the same gear

- a force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion; also a measure—force

Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, Merriam‑Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

From Latin torquēre, meaning "to twist" or "to turn”.

First appeared in English in the late 19th century (around 1882) as a physics and engineering term referring to rotational force or the tendency of a force to rotate an object around an axis—was adopted directly from physics terminology in the late 1800s. Engineers and physicists chose this term because it perfectly captures the twisting motion that torque produces.

The Latin root torquēre gave rise to many English words that share the concept of twisting or turning: torture (originally meaning "to twist”), contort (to twist together), distort (to twist out of shape), extort (literally "to twist out”), retort (to twist back, as in a sharp reply), torch (from the twisted material used as a wick).

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TWIST POWER

Torque is all around us, quietly shaping the way things move. It lets us crack open a stuck jar lid, swing a door with ease, or drive a screw into wood. At its core, torque is simply a turning force—the product of how strongly we push and how far from the pivot we apply that push. The longer the lever or the greater the force, the more powerful the twist. And while we often think of torque in the context of tools or machines, nature was making use of it long before humans put physics to work.  

One of the most striking examples lies in the microscopic world. Bacteria propel themselves with whip‑like flagella that rotate like tiny propellers, driven by molecular motors generating torque at a speed of over 1,500 revolutions per second! On a completely different level, our own bodies rely on the same principle. Every time we bend an elbow, lift a bag, or pivot a knee, our muscles generate torque around joints, turning the skeleton into a system of living levers.

From the spin of bacteria in water to the way muscles turn our bones, torque is everywhere. It helps open jars, swing doors, and keeps us moving—reminding us every day that the power of a good twist is built into both life and the tools we use.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

angular force, circular force, driving force, fulcrum twist, gyration, horsepower twist, lever arm force, leverage, moment, moment arm, moment of force, pull, pulling power, revolution force, rotational force, rotational moment, spin, swivel, TORQUE, torquing force, turning effect (effort, force, moment), twisting action (effect, effort, force, moment, power), wheel force, wrench

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SMUGGLE
 OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Effective physiotherapy relies heavily on an understanding of TORQUE.”

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D