contortion

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a twisted, strained, or unnatural position or movement of the body or face

   His face tightened into a contortion of pain.

2. 2
   noun

   the act or process of twisting or deforming something

   The crash caused a severe contortion of the metal frame.

3. 3
   noun

   an acrobatic practice involving extreme bending and flexing of the body

   Years of training allowed her to perform the contortion safely.

From Middle French contortion, ultimately from Latin contorquere ("to twist together"), formed from con- ("together") + torquere ("to twist").

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