# torsion

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɔː.ʃən/ · frequency rank #35,117

## Definitions
1. The act of turning or twisting, or the state of being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.
2. A finite order element of a group that, when raised to a positive integer power results in the identity element of the group.
3. An element of a homology or cohomology group for which there exists a non-zero integer that, when the element is multiplied by that integer, yields zero.
4. A type of holistic complimentary medicine that involves balancing theoretical energy fields through energy healing, meditation, and similar practices.
5. That force with which a thread, wire, or rod of any material returns, or tends to return, to a state of rest after it has been twisted; torsibility.
6. The stopping of arterial haemorrhage in certain cases, by twisting the cut end of the artery.

## Etymology
From Middle English torcion, from Middle French torsion, from Late Latin torsiōnem, from Latin tortiō, from torqueō (“twist, turn”). See torture, -tort.

## Easily confused with
- **torso** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/torsion-vs-torso)
- **Towson** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/torsion-vs-towson)
- **tension** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tension-vs-torsion)

## Common misspellings (11)
`otrsion`, `torison`, `torrsion`, `torsino`, `torsionn`, `torsoin`, `torssion`, `tortion`, `tosrion`, `trosion`, `ttorsion`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/torsion