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distortion

distortion

71 5.0
A change in shape or appearance that makes things look less accurate
  • noun
  • /dɪsˈtɔːrʃən/
: distorsión
  • The distortion in the photograph made it hard to see the true colors of the sunset.
  • perceptual distortion
  • size distortion
  • body image distortion

Unless it looks like a Carnival distortion mirror, then then it might hurt a little bit.

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Examples

  • Well, those distortions will most likely create an environment where our economy produces fewer goods and services in the future.

  • A black hole is such a distortion of space and time that light cannot even escape.

  • Captain, do you see the distortion around the model?

  • So we kind of see the idea of distortion in a projection.

  • Now, this distortion can of course go in both directions.

  • Anyway, luckily for you and I and all of us, the amount of distortion is incredibly small.

  • Many researchers have suggested that perceptual distortion of body size also varies as a function of body weight.

    Academic text (1997)
  • What you're seeing is the distortion, the curvature of the light rays.

  • This object behind them then appears distorted, and from the amount of distortion you can infer the mass of the lens.

  • Black, yellow, copper: all variations and distortions of color blended perfectly.

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

perversion
vsdistortion
17 7.9

A change that damages the original meaning or purpose

focuses more on changing form or accuracy rather than moral corruption
deformation
vsdistortion
  • Specialized
7 5.9

A change in the shape of an object that makes it look or work worse

is broader, covering any change that makes something less accurate or true
aberration
vsdistortion
  • Specialized
3 8.4

A fault in a lens or mirror that makes images look wrong

is broader, applying to any change that makes something less accurate or true
twisting
vsdistortion
2 6.3

Making facts seem to mean something else

is more general, covering any change that makes something less true or accurate
warping
vsdistortion
1 7.7

A change that makes a person's mind and values become twisted

focuses on changes in form, appearance, or truth rather than moral change
disfiguration
vsdistortion
1 8.0

Damage to the look of something that makes it seem broken or ugly

is broader, applying to accuracy or truth, not only visible appearance
warpage
vsdistortion
  • Specialized
1 7.8

Bending or twisting of a thing so it loses its original shape

is broader, covering any change that makes something less accurate or true
change of shape
vsdistortion
1 3.2

The way something becomes a different form when it is bent, heated, or pressed

includes shape change but also covers changes that reduce accuracy or truth

Antonyms

169 3.8

How close a measurement or statement is to the correct value

7 2.7

How easy it is to see through something like clean water

Compounds

1 9.3

A situation where a person's charm makes others ignore real problems

amplitude distortion
  • Specialized
7.1

When an electronic device makes part of a signal louder or quieter than it should

nonlinear distortion
  • Specialized
8.1

An unwanted change in a signal when the output does not follow the input, often adding extra tones

How Distorted

deformation
  • Specialized
7 5.9
distortion
71 5.0
alteration
55 3.3
change
∞ 1.1

Surface Forms

distortion singular
distortions plural

Morphology

distortion = distort (transparent) = distort + ion

Standard noun formation from the verb 'distort' with '-ion' meaning the act or result of distorting, so learners who know 'distort' will readily infer 'distortion'.

Etymology

Distortion comes from Latin parts dis- 'apart' and torquere 'to twist'. Think of a straight line being 'twisted apart' by a lens or mirror, so distortion means a change that makes the original shape look wrong or less accurate.