/ik stawr"sheuhn/ , n.
1. an act or instance of extorting.
2. Law. the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.
3. oppressive or illegal exaction, as of excessive price or interest: the extortions of usurers.
4. anything extorted.
[ 1250-1300; ME extorcion extortion- (s. of extortio ). See EXTORT, -ION ]
Syn. 1, 4. blackmail.