Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

contort

/kənˈtɔː(ɹ)t/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.03 in modern English

Syllables
con-tort
IPA
/kənˈtɔː(ɹ)t/
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To twist in a violent manner.

Transitive verb

verb

To twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

Equivalent to con- + -tort; from Middle English, borrowed from Latin contortus, past participle of contorqueō, from com- + torqueō (“twist, turn”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *terkʷ-, -, contortus

Usage

Inflected Forms

contorts (present, singular) contorting (participle, present) contorted (participle, past) contorted (past)

Derived Forms

contortable contorter contortion contortionist contortive contortly

Synonyms

deform detort twist distort wring

Rhymes With

support court short report sort port sport transport fort resort ct import

Questions

How do you pronounce contort?
The recorded pronunciation is /kənˈtɔː(ɹ)t/.
What does contort mean?
To twist in a violent manner.
Where does contort come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce contort

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “contort”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kənˈtɔː(ɹ)t/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “contort”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “contort” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.