# torque
## English
### Pronunciation

* (General American) IPA: /tɔɹk/
* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /tɔːk/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)k
* Homophones: torq, torc; talk (non-rhotic)

### Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin torqueō (“to twist”).

#### Alternative forms

* torc

#### Noun

torque (countable and uncountable, plural torques)
* (physics, mechanics) A rotational or twisting effect of a force; a moment of force, defined for measurement purposes as an equivalent straight line force multiplied by the distance from the axis of rotation (SI unit newton metre or Nm; imperial unit pound-foot or lb·ft, not to be confused with the foot pound-force, commonly "foot-pound", a unit of work or energy)
** 1978, James Richard Wertz, Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control‎, Springer, page 17:The relative strengths of the various torques will depend on both the spacecraft environment and the form and structure of the spacecraft itself.
** 2006, Department of Mining Engineering, Proceedings: 35th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, volume 25, West Virginia University, page 162:The drillhead produces the drilling rotation and torque but also must slide out of position to allow the machine to manipulate the finisher drill steel and consumables.

##### Derived terms

* peak torque
* torque converter
* torque meter
* torque spanner
* torque steer
* torque wrench

##### Related terms

* torsion

##### Descendants

* → Turkish: tork

##### See also

* metric: newton metre / newton meter (N·m)
* symbol for torque as a variable: τ
* moment of force

#### Verb

torque (third-person singular simple present torques, present participle torquing or torqueing, simple past and past participle torqued)
* (physics, mechanics) To make something rotate about an axis by imparting torque to it.

##### Derived terms

* torque off
* torque up

#### Further reading

* torque on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

### Etymology 2

From French torque, from Old French, from Latin torquis; or adapted directly from Latin torquēs (cf. earlier English torques).

#### Alternative forms

* torc, tork, torq
* torques

#### Noun

torque (plural torques)
* A tightly braided necklace or collar, often made of metal, worn by various early European peoples.

##### Related terms

* torquated

##### Translations
#### Further reading

* torc on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

### References

* ↑ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “torque (n.)”, in Online Etymology Dictionary: “The word also is used (since 1834) by antiquarians and others […], from Latin torques "collar of twisted metal," from torquere. Earlier it had been called in English torques (1690s).”
* ↑ James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Torque$^1$, torc (tǭɹk)”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume X, Part 1 (Ti–U), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 164, column 3: “ad. L. torquēs, -is (see Torques); so mod.F. torque.”

### Anagrams

* quoter, roquet

## French
### Etymology 1

From Old French torque, borrowed from Latin torquem.

#### Noun

torque m (plural torques)
* torque (necklace)

### Etymology 2

From Old French torke, northern variant of torche, from Vulgar Latin *torca, ultimately from the same source as etymology 2.

#### Noun

torque f (plural torques)
* (heraldry) torse

### References

* “torque”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

## Galician
### Alternative forms

* torques

### Etymology

From Latin torquis.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈtɔɾke/ [ˈt̪ɔɾ.kɪ]
* Rhymes: -ɔɾke
* Hyphenation: tor‧que

### Noun

torque m (plural torques)
* torque (a tightly braided necklace or collar, often made of metal, worn by various early European peoples.)

### References

* Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “torque”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
* “torque”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2025

## Latin
### Noun

torque
* ablative singular of torquis

### Verb

torquē
* second-person singular active imperative of torqueō

## Portuguese
### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈtɔʁ.ki/ [ˈtɔh.ki]
* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈtɔʁ.ki/ [ˈtɔh.ki]
** (São Paulo) IPA: /ˈtɔɾ.ki/
** (Rio de Janeiro) IPA: /ˈtɔʁ.ki/ [ˈtɔχ.ki]
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /ˈtɔɻ.ke/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈtɔɾ.kɨ/
* Hyphenation: tor‧que

### Noun

torque m (plural torques)
* (physics, mechanics) torque (a rotational or twisting force)
    Synonym: momento de forças
    Para estar em equilíbrio estático, um corpo rígido deve ter a soma de seus torques igual a zero.In order to be in static equilibrium, a rigid body must have the sum of its torques equal to zero.

## Spanish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈtoɾke/ [ˈt̪oɾ.ke]
* Rhymes: -oɾke
* Syllabification: tor‧que

### Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin torqueō (“to twist”).

#### Noun

torque m (plural torques)
* (physics, mechanics) torque (a rotational or twisting force)
    Synonym: momento de fuerza

##### Usage notes

* The term momento de fuerza is preferred.

##### Related terms

* torsión

##### See also

* torques

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from English turkey. Doublet of Turquía

#### Noun

torque m (plural torques)
* (New Mexico) turkey
    Synonyms: pavo, guajolote

### Anagrams

* quetro, troque

### References

* Garland D. Bills, Neddy A. Vigil (2008) The Spanish Language of New Mexico and Southern Colorado: A Linguistic Atlas‎, University of New Mexico Press, →ISBN
* Rubén Cobos (2003) A Dictionary of New Mexico & Southern Colorado Spanish‎, Museum of New Mexico Press, →ISBN