distort
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dis·tort
(dĭ-stôrt′)tr.v. dis·tort·ed, dis·tort·ing, dis·torts
1. To twist out of a proper or natural relation of parts; misshape: a reflection distorted in the moving water; a face distorted in misery.
2. To cause to deviate from what is normal, reasonable, or accurate: "Though I knew how to translate exactly what she had told me, I realized that any translation would distort the deepest meaning of her message" (Richard Rodriguez).
3. Electronics To cause distortion in (a signal or waveform, for example).
[Latin distorquēre, distort- : dis-, apart; see dis- + torquēre, to twist; see terkw- in Indo-European roots.]
dis·tort′er n.
Synonyms: distort, twist, deform, contort, warp
These verbs mean to alter form or character, usually disadvantageously. To distort is to change the physical shape of something, as by torsion or exaggerating certain features, or to misconstrue the meaning of something: "The human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of things" (Francis Bacon).
Twist applies to distortion of form or meaning: He twisted his mouth in pain. She accused me of twisting her words. Deform refers to change that disfigures and often implies the loss of desirable qualities such as beauty: Erosion deforms the landscape. Contort implies violent change that produces unnatural or grotesque effects: "The body of the bird ... contorted suddenly. Its back arching; its head and tail straining to feel the touch of the other; its taloned feet grappling for a hold on a world that was gone" (Pete Dunne).
Warp can refer to turning from a flat or straight form or from a true course or direction: The floorboards warped over the years. His judgment is warped by prejudice.
These verbs mean to alter form or character, usually disadvantageously. To distort is to change the physical shape of something, as by torsion or exaggerating certain features, or to misconstrue the meaning of something: "The human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of things" (Francis Bacon).
Twist applies to distortion of form or meaning: He twisted his mouth in pain. She accused me of twisting her words. Deform refers to change that disfigures and often implies the loss of desirable qualities such as beauty: Erosion deforms the landscape. Contort implies violent change that produces unnatural or grotesque effects: "The body of the bird ... contorted suddenly. Its back arching; its head and tail straining to feel the touch of the other; its taloned feet grappling for a hold on a world that was gone" (Pete Dunne).
Warp can refer to turning from a flat or straight form or from a true course or direction: The floorboards warped over the years. His judgment is warped by prejudice.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
distort
(dɪˈstɔːt)vb (tr)
1. (often passive) to twist or pull out of shape; make bent or misshapen; contort; deform
2. to alter or misrepresent (facts, motives, etc)
3. (Electronics) electronics to reproduce or amplify (a signal) inaccurately, changing the shape of the waveform
[C16: from Latin distortus misshapen, from distorquēre to turn different ways, from dis-1 + torquēre to twist]
disˈtorted adj
disˈtortedly adv
disˈtortedness n
disˈtorter n
disˈtortive adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dis•tort
(dɪˈstɔrt)v.t.
1. to twist out of shape; alter the original or normal appearance of.
2. to give a false, perverted, or disproportionate meaning to; misrepresent.
3. to reproduce (an electronic signal) inaccurately.
[1580–90; < Latin distortus, past participle of distorquēre to distort =dis- dis-1 + torquēre to twist]
dis•tort′er, n.
syn: See misrepresent.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
distort
Past participle: distorted
Gerund: distorting
| Imperative |
|---|
| distort |
| distort |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | distort - make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story murder, mutilate, mangle - alter so as to make unrecognizable; "The tourists murdered the French language" misrepresent, belie - represent falsely; "This statement misrepresents my intentions" |
| 2. |  distort - form into a spiral shape; "The cord is all twisted"mat, entangle, snarl, tangle - twist together or entwine into a confusing mass; "The child entangled the cord" interlace, intertwine, lace, twine, enlace, entwine - spin,wind, or twist together; "intertwine the ribbons"; "Twine the threads into a rope"; "intertwined hearts" spin - work natural fibers into a thread; "spin silk" interweave, weave - interlace by or as if by weaving | |
| 3. | distort - twist and press out of shape morph - change shape as via computer animation; "In the video, Michael Jackson morphed into a panther" wring - twist, squeeze, or compress in order to extract liquid; "wring the towels" | |
| 4. | distort - affect as in thought or feeling; "My personal feelings color my judgment in this case"; "The sadness tinged his life" | |
| 5. | distort - alter the shape of (something) by stress; "His body was deformed by leprosy" jaundice - distort adversely; "Jealousy had jaundiced his judgment" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
distort
verb
1. misrepresent, twist, bias, disguise, pervert, slant, colour, misinterpret, falsify, garble The media distorts reality.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
distort
verb1. To alter and spoil the natural form or appearance of:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُحَرِّف، يُغَيِّر في شَكْل الصَّوْتيُشَوِّه
deformovatzkreslitzkřivit
fordrejeforvanskeforvrænge
vääntäävääristäävääristellä
elgörbül
aflagaaflagast
iškreipimasiškreipti
deformētizkropļotsagrozīt
skresliť
distort
[dɪsˈtɔːt] VT [+ shape etc] → deformar; [+ sound, image] → distorsionar (fig) [+ judgment] → distorsionar; [+ truth] → tergiversarCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
distort
vt → verzerren (also Phys); truth, words → verdrehen; reality, history → verzerrt darstellen; facts → verzerrt darstellen, verdrehen; judgement → trüben, beeinträchtigen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
distort
[dɪsˈtɔːt] vt (also) (fig) → distorcere; (face, also) (Tech) → deformare; (account, news) → falsarea distorted impression → una falsa impressione
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
distort
(diˈstoːt) verb1. to make or become twisted out of shape. Her face was distorted with pain; Metal distorts under stress.
2. to make (sound) indistinct and unnatural. Her voice sounded distorted on the telephone.
diˈstortion (-ʃən) nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
distort
v. torcer, deformar, desfigurar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012