WRENCH


Meaning of WRENCH in English

— wrencher , n. — wrenchingly , adv.

/rench/ , v.t.

1. to twist suddenly and forcibly; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist: He wrenched the prisoner's wrist.

2. to overstrain or injure (the ankle, knee, etc.) by a sudden, violent twist: When she fell, she wrenched her ankle.

3. to affect distressingly as if by a wrench.

4. to wrest, as from the right use or meaning: to wrench the facts out of context.

v.i.

5. to twist, turn, or move suddenly aside: He wrenched away.

6. to give a wrench or twist at something.

n.

7. a wrenching movement; a sudden, violent twist: With a quick wrench, she freed herself.

8. a painful, straining twist, as of the ankle or wrist.

9. a sharp, distressing strain, as to the feelings.

10. a twisting or distortion, as of meaning.

11. a tool for gripping and turning or twisting the head of a bolt, a nut, a pipe, or the like, commonly consisting of a bar of metal with fixed or adjustable jaws.

[ bef. 1050; ME wrenchen (v.), OE wrencan to twist, turn; c. G renken ]

Syn. 4. distort, twist, warp.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .