con ‧ tor ‧ tion /kənˈtɔːʃ ə n $ -ɔːr-/ BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] a twisted position or movement that looks surprising or strange:
I could not force my body into the contortions required by classical ballet.
facial contortions
2 . [uncountable] when something is twisted so that it does not have its normal shape:
involuntary muscle contortion
3 . [countable] something difficult you have to do in order to achieve something:
He went through a series of amazing contortions to get Karen a work permit.