If someone's face or body contorts or is contorted, it moves into an unnatural and unattractive shape or position. His face contorts as he screams out the lyrics The gentlest of her caresses would contort his already tense body Brenner was breathing hard, his face contorted with pain. if you contort something, or if it contorts, it twists out of its normal shape and looks strange or unattractive contort with/in (past participle of contorquere, from com- ( COM-) + torquere )
[ k&n-'tort ] (verb.) 15th century. Middle English, from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquEre, from com- + torquEre to twist; more at TORTURE.