/ rentʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to pull or twist sth / sb/yourself suddenly and violently
SYN jerk :
[ vn , usually + adv. / prep. ]
The bag was wrenched from her grasp.
He grabbed Ben, wrenching him away from his mother.
( figurative )
Guy wrenched his mind back to the present.
[ vn - adj ]
They wrenched the door open.
She managed to wrench herself free.
[also v ]
2.
[ vn ] to twist and injure a part of your body, especially your ankle or shoulder
SYN twist :
She wrenched her knee when she fell.
3.
wrench sth (from sb) | wrench (at) sth ( formal ) to make sb feel great pain or unhappiness, especially so that they make a sound or cry :
[ vn ]
His words wrenched a sob from her.
[ v ]
Her words wrenched at my heart.
a wrenching experience
—see also gut-wrenching
■ noun
1.
( especially NAmE ) ( BrE usually span·ner ) [ C ] a metal tool with a specially shaped end for holding and turning things, including one which can be adjusted to fit objects of different sizes, also called a monkey wrench or an adjustable spanner
2.
[ sing. ] pain or unhappiness that you feel when you have to leave a person or place that you love :
Leaving home was a terrible wrench for me.
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] a sudden and violent twist or pull :
She stumbled and gave her ankle a painful wrench.
•
IDIOMS
- throw a wrench in / into sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English wrencan twist , of unknown origin.