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torque¹

(tôrk)

1. The measure of a force's tendency to produce torsion or rotation about an axis, equal to the product of the force vector and the radius vector from the axis of rotation to the point of application of the force; the moment of a force.

2. A turning or twisting force.

tr.v. torqued, torqu·ing, torques

To impart torque to.

[From Latin torquēre, to twist; see terk^w- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

torquer n.

torquey adj.

torque² or torc

(tôrk)

A collar, a necklace, or an armband made of a strip of twisted metal, worn by the ancient Celts and Germans.

[French, from Old French, from Latin torquēs, from torquēre, to twist; see terk^w- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

(click for a larger image)

torque2

c. 75 bc Celtic gold Great Torc of Snettisham

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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