torque

torque — noun

1. the tendency of a force to spin an object around a fixed centre; the rotational

1.nounB2
Definition

the tendency of a force to spin an object around a fixed centre; the rotational effect that tightens or turns machine parts.

Example

Yuki's truck engine produces enough torque to pull a heavy trailer easily.

collocation: enough torque

Vinícius checked the torque on his bicycle wheel bolts before the time trial.

collocation: check the torque

Common collocations
  • high torque
  • low torque
  • enough torque
  • torque wrench
  • torque converter
  • torque setting
  • deliver torque
  • produce torque
  • measure torque
Synonyms
  • twist

    a more general word for a turning movement; less technical than torque

  • rotation

    describes the circular motion itself rather than the force causing it

  • moment

    the preferred term in formal physics for the same concept when calculated as force × distance

Grammar Patterns

torque + verb (is measured in, produces)

high/low + torque

Usage Note

In everyday language, torque is most often discussed in relation to car engines, bicycles, and power tools. Its standard unit of measurement in most countries is the newton-metre (Nm).

Common Mistakes

The car has a lot of torque power.
The car's engine produces a lot of torque.
torque is itself a type of force, so adding 'power' after it is redundant.
I used torque to open the jar.
I used force to twist open the jar.
torque is a technical rotational force, not a general synonym for strength or effort.

torque — verb

Word family

  • torqued
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Torque, force, power, and moment are often confused because all relate to motion and energy. Force is the broadest term — any push or pull that changes an object's movement — while torque specifically describes a force that causes rotation around a centre. Power differs by adding the dimension of time: it is the rate at which work is done. A car engine may produce high torque (strong twisting force) but low power if it cannot sustain that force at high speed. Moment is the formal physics term for torque (force × distance from pivot) and is preferred in scientific writing; torque is more common in automotive and engineering contexts. For example, 'Applying a force of 10 N to a spanner creates a torque of 5 Nm at the bolt.'

forcepower ↗moment ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • apply torque
  • torque to specification
  • high torque output

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word torque comes from Latin 'torquere', meaning 'to twist'. It entered English in the late 1800s as a physics term for rotational force. The verb form developed later as engineers needed a shorter way to say 'apply a measured twisting force to a fastener'.