distorsione

distortion

noun dee-stor-TSYOH-neh Rare

Origin: Latin distortio, from distorquere (to twist apart)

Also means

sprain

Usage Note

Distorsione covers both a physical sprain or twist (distorsione alla caviglia = 'ankle sprain') and a technical or figurative distortion of sound, image, or facts. In medical contexts it is used precisely where English uses 'sprain'. The plural is regular: distorsioni.

Examples

"Ha riportato una distorsione alla caviglia."

Natural Translation

She suffered a sprained ankle.

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