torquere

Torquere is a Latin verb of the third conjugation meaning to twist, to turn, or to bend. It is typically transitive, describing twisting or turning an object or part of the body. In Latin, it appears in a variety of contexts—from physical twisting to figurative turning of events—and forms a number of compounds and phrases. The principal parts are torquere, torquō, torsi, tortum, which biographers, grammars, and glossaries use to describe its tense and voice. The verb also yields participles such as torquēns (twisting) and tortus (twisted), used as adjectives or nouns in Latin.

Etymology and derivatives: The word torque in English derives from the Latin torquere via Old French torque and other Romance-language transmissions. In modern usage, torque denotes the turning or twisting effect produced by a force applied at a distance from an axis. The related verb form torque—along with derivatives like torquing and torqued—appears in technical and engineering contexts to describe applying or measuring a specific turning moment.

In science and engineering, torque is defined as the moment of a force about an axis, mathematically represented as the cross product of the lever arm and the force (τ = r × F). It is measured in newton-meters (N·m) in the metric system and often discussed with reference to the right-hand rule for direction. Torque differs from force in that it concerns rotational effect rather than linear push or pull, and it is a key parameter in designing fasteners, shafts, gears, and mechanical assemblies. The term is widely used in physics, engineering, and everyday machinery maintenance, such as specifying the torque to apply when tightening bolts with a torque wrench.

See also: torque, torque wrench, rotational dynamics.