wrench

CEFRB2

/ˈɹɛnt͡ʃ/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A tool used for turning nuts and bolts.

  2. 02

    verb

    To pull or twist something suddenly and strongly.

Examples

  • Factional in-fighting threw a monkey wrench into the deliberations.

  • Tom came in with a wrench in his hand.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A trick or artifice.

  2. An injury caused by a violent twisting or pulling of a limb; strain, sprain.

  3. A movement that twists or pulls violently; a tug.

More examples

In context

  • Be careful not to wrench your ankle walking along those loose stones!

  • The plumber wrenched the pipes until they came loose.

  • With a surge of adrenaline, she wrenched the car door off and pulled out the injured man.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

To remove the rusted nut, he grabbed a blank from his toolbox.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English wrench, from Old English wrenċ, from Proto-Germanic *wrankiz, from Proto-Indo-European *wreng- (“to turn”). Compare German Rank (“plot, intrigue”).