/ kənˈtɔːʃn; NAmE -ˈtɔːrʃn/ noun
1.
[ U ] the state of the face or body being twisted out of its natural shape :
Their bodies had suffered contortion as a result of malnutrition.
2.
[ C ] a movement which twists the body out of its natural shape :
His facial contortions amused the audience of schoolchildren.
( figurative )
We had to go through all the usual contortions to get a ticket (= a difficult series of actions) .