n. [ F., fr. LL. torsio, fr. L. torquere, tortum, to twist. See Torture. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Angle of torsion (of a curve) (Geom.), the indefinitely small angle between two consecutive osculating planes of a curve of double curvature. --
Moment of torsion (Mech.) the moment of a pair of equal and opposite couples which tend to twist a body. --
Torsion balance (Physics.), an instrument for estimating very minute forces, as electric or magnetic attractions and repulsions, by the torsion of a very slender wire or fiber having at its lower extremity a horizontal bar or needle, upon which the forces act. --
Torsion scale, a scale for weighing in which the fulcra of the levers or beams are strained wires or strips acting by torsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to torsion; resulting from torsion, or the force with which a thread or wire returns to a state of rest after having been twisted round its axis; as, torsional force. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) A torsion balance used for measuring electric attraction or repulsion. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) A galvanometer in which current is measured by torsion. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. That part of a torsion balance from which the wire or filament is suspended. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. An autographic torsion meter. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Mech.) An instrument for determining the torque on a shaft, and hence the horse power of an engine, esp. of a marine engine of high power, by measuring the amount of twist of a given length of the shaft. Called also torsimeter, torsiometer, torsometer. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]