torque
TORK
/tɔːrk/
A twisting force that tends to cause rotation.
In cars, torque is what you feel as the 'push' into your seat when you accelerate, whereas horsepower is what keeps you at high speeds.
The story behind the word. The Latin 'torquere' means 'to twist.' This same root gives us 'torture' (twisting limbs) and 'tortuous' (full of twists and turns). In the 1880s, James Thomson coined 'torque' to describe rotational force in engineering.
Word relationships
- torsion: Torsion is the state of being twisted; torque is the force that does the twisting.
Commonly confused with
- horsepower: Horsepower is the rate of doing work; torque is the rotational force itself.
Word family
- torque (verb): To apply a twisting force.
Collocations
- high torque
- torque wrench
- peak torque
Example sentences
- "It's not the horsepower that gets you moving; it's the torque." A common racing adage.
- "Electric motors provide maximum torque from zero RPM, resulting in rapid acceleration." Technical specification of an electric car.
Memory hook
Torque is the 'twist' that makes the tires 'talk' (squeal). Torque = Twist.
When not to use
Do not use 'torque' when you mean linear force (pushing in a straight line).
Fun facts
- A 'torque' was also a type of twisted metal necklace worn by ancient Celts.
- Diesel engines typically produce much more torque than gasoline engines of the same size.
Related words
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.