con‧tor‧tion /kənˈtɔːʃən $ -ɔːr-/ 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.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲