warp

warp [wôrp]

n.

[ME < OE wearp < base of weorpan, to throw, akin to Ger werfen < IE * werb- < base * wer-, to turn, bend > WORM]

1.

a) a distortion, as a twist or bend, in wood or in an object made of wood, caused by contraction in drying

b) any similar distortion, as in metal

c) the state or fact of being so distorted

2. a mental twist, quirk, aberration, or bias

3.

a) silt, sediment, or mud deposited as by a stream

b) a deposit of this

4. Naut. a rope or line run from a boat, etc. to a dock, buoy, anchor, etc., and used to warp the vessel into position

5.

a) Weaving the set of threads running lengthwise in the loom and crossed by the weft, or woof

b) the very fiber or essential part of something; foundation; base

vt.

[ME warpen, to throw, bend < OE weorpan, to throw]

1. to bend, curve, or twist out of shape; distort

2.

a) to turn from the true, natural, or right course

b) to turn from a healthy, sane, or normal condition; pervert; bias: said of the mind, character, judgment, etc.

c) to twist or distort in telling; misinterpret [a warped account]

3. Naut. to move (a boat, etc.) by hauling on a line fastened to a pile, dock, anchor, etc.

4. Weaving to arrange (threads or yarns) so as to form a warp

vi.

1. to become bent or twisted out of shape, as wood does in drying

2. to turn aside from the true, natural, or right course

3. Naut. to move into position by warping or being warped: said as of a boat

SYN.- DEFORM

warper

n.