Distortion vs. Warp — What's the Difference?

Distortion is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of something. In communications and electronics it means the alteration of the waveform of an information-bearing signal, such as an audio signal representing sound or a video signal representing images, in an electronic device or communication channel.

Make or become bent or twisted out of shape, typically as a result of the effects of heat or damp

The act or an instance of distorting.

(with reference to a ship) move or be moved along by hauling on a rope attached to a stationary object ashore

The condition of being distorted.

(in weaving) arrange (yarn) so as to form the warp of a piece of cloth

A statement that twists fact; a misrepresentation.

Cover (land) with a deposit of alluvial soil by natural or artificial flooding

The alteration of the original form of a signal representing an image, a sound, a waveform, or other information.

A twist or distortion in the shape of something

A visible or audible effect of such an alteration, such as the warping of an image or noise in an audio recording.

(in weaving) the threads on a loom over and under which other threads (the weft) are passed to make cloth

(Psychology) The modification of unconscious impulses into forms acceptable by conscious or dreaming perception.

A rope attached at one end to a fixed point and used for moving or mooring a ship.

An act of distorting.

Alluvial sediment; silt

A result of distorting.

To turn or twist (wood, for example) out of shape; deform.

A misrepresentation of the truth.

To alter from a normal, proper, or healthy state; twist or pervert

Noise or other artifacts caused in the electronic reproduction of sound or music.

To arrange strands of yarn or thread lengthwise onto (a loom) in preparation for weaving.

An effect used in music, most commonly on guitars in rock or metal.

(Nautical) To move (a vessel) by hauling on a line that is fastened to or around a piling, anchor, or pier.

(optics) an aberration that causes magnification to change over the field of view.

To become bent or twisted out of shape

The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body.

To become altered from what is normal, proper, or healthy.

A wresting from the true meaning.

(Nautical) To move a vessel by hauling on a line that is fastened to or around a piling, anchor, or pier.

The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion.

The state of being twisted or bent out of shape.

An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the body producing visible deformity.

A distortion or twist, especially in a piece of wood.

A change for the worse

A mental or moral twist, aberration, or deviation.

A shape resulting from distortion

The threads that run lengthwise in a woven fabric, crossed at right angles to the woof.

An optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image

Warp and woof.

A change (usually undesired) in the waveform of an acoustic or analog electrical signal; the difference between two measurements of a signal (as between the input and output signal);

(Nautical) A towline used in warping a vessel.

The act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean

(uncountable) The state, quality, or condition of being twisted, physically or mentally:

The mistake of misrepresenting the facts

(uncountable) The state, quality, or condition of being physically bent or twisted out of shape.

(uncountable) The state, quality, or condition of being deviant from what is right or proper morally or mentally.

(countable) A distortion:

(countable) A distortion or twist, such as in a piece of wood also used figuratively.

(countable) A mental or moral distortion, deviation, or aberration.

(weaving) The threads that run lengthwise in a woven fabric; crossed by the woof or weft.

(figurative) The foundation, the basis, the undergirding.

(nautical) A line or cable or rode as is used in warping (mooring or hauling) a ship, and sometimes for other purposes such as deploying a seine or creating drag.

A theoretical construct that permits travel across a medium without passing through it normally, such as a teleporter or time warp.

A situation or place which is or seems to be from another era; a time warp.

The sediment which subsides from turbid water; the alluvial deposit of muddy water artificially introduced into low lands in order to enrich or fertilise them.

A throw or cast, as of fish (in which case it is used as a unit of measure: about four fish, though sometimes three or even two), oysters, etc.

To twist or become twisted, physically or mentally:

(transitive) To twist or turn (something) out of shape; to deform.

(intransitive) To become twisted out of shape; to deform.

(transitive) To deflect or turn (something) away from a true, proper or moral course; to pervert; to bias.

(intransitive) To go astray or be deflected from a true, proper or moral course; to deviate.

To run (yarn) off the reel into hauls to be tarred.

(transitive) To arrange (strands of thread, etc) so that they run lengthwise in weaving.

To plot; to fabricate or weave (a plot or scheme).

To change or fix (make fixed, for example by freezing).

To move:

To move a vessel by hauling on a line or cable that is fastened to an anchor or pier; (especially) to move a sailing ship through a restricted place such as a harbour.

To move or be moved by this method.

To fly with a bending or waving motion, like a flock of birds or insects.

To travel or transport across a medium without passing through it normally, as by using a teleporter or time warp.

To bring forth (young) prematurely.

To fertilize (low-lying land) by letting the tide, a river, or other water in upon it to deposit silt and alluvial matter.

To throw.

To throw; hence, to send forth, or throw out, as words; to utter.

To turn or twist out of shape; esp., to twist or bend out of a flat plane by contraction or otherwise.

To turn aside from the true direction; to cause to bend or incline; to pervert.

To weave; to fabricate.

To tow or move, as a vessel, with a line, or warp, attached to a buoy, anchor, or other fixed object.

To cast prematurely, as young; - said of cattle, sheep, etc.

To let the tide or other water in upon (lowlying land), for the purpose of fertilization, by a deposit of warp, or slimy substance.

To run off the reel into hauls to be tarred, as yarns.

To arrange (yarns) on a warp beam.

To twist the end surfaces of (an aërocurve in an airfoil) in order to restore or maintain equilibrium.

To turn, twist, or be twisted out of shape; esp., to be twisted or bent out of a flat plane; as, a board warps in seasoning or shrinking.

To turn or incline from a straight, true, or proper course; to deviate; to swerve.

To fly with a bending or waving motion; to turn and wave, like a flock of birds or insects.

To cast the young prematurely; to slink; - said of cattle, sheep, etc.

To wind yarn off bobbins for forming the warp of a web; to wind a warp on a warp beam.

The threads which are extended lengthwise in the loom, and crossed by the woof.

A rope used in hauling or moving a vessel, usually with one end attached to an anchor, a post, or other fixed object; a towing line; a warping hawser.

A slimy substance deposited on land by tides, etc., by which a rich alluvial soil is formed.

A premature casting of young; - said of cattle, sheep, etc.

The state of being warped or twisted; as, the warp of a board.

A twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way of judging or acting

A shape distorted by twisting or folding

A moral or mental distortion

Yarn arranged lengthways on a loom and crossed by the woof

Make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story

Bend out of shape, as under pressure or from heat;