tor´tur|er

tor´tur|er
tor|ture «TR chuhr», noun, verb, -tured, -tur|ing.
–n.
1. the act or fact of inflicting very severe pain. Torture was formerly used to make people give evidence about crimes, or to make them confess.
2. a) a very severe pain or suffering; agony: »

She suffered tortures from a toothache.

SYNONYM(S): anguish, misery, distress. b) a cause of severe pain or suffering: »

The sight of his sick brother was torture to him.

3. Figurative. a violent and continuous twisting, pushing, or shaking that taxes a thing to the limit: »

the torture of a boat by pounding seas.

–v.t.
1. to cause very severe pain or suffering to; torment: »

That cruel boy tortures animals. The fear of failure tortured him.

 SYNONYM(S): rack, persecute, distress. See syn. under torment. (Cf. ↑torment)
2. Figurative. to twist the meaning or form of: »

to torture a word, sentence, or idea.

SYNONYM(S): strain, distort, pervert.
3. Figurative. to strain, twist, or force out of its natural form: »

Winds tortured the trees. An early Victorian room…full…of twisted and tortured mahogany (Arnold Bennett).

4. to puzzle or perplex greatly: »

a mind tortured by problems.

╂[< Middle French torture, learned borrowing from Late Latin tortūra < Latin torquēre to twist]
–tor´tur|er, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tor´tur|ing|ly — tor|tur|ing «TR chuhr ihng», adjective. that causes anguish; torturous: »torturing jealousy. –tor´tur|ing|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • tor|tur|ing — «TR chuhr ihng», adjective. that causes anguish; torturous: »torturing jealousy. –tor´tur|ing|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • tor´tur|ous|ly — tor|tur|ous «TR chuhr uhs», adjective. full of, involving, or causing torture; tormenting. SYNONYM(S): excruciating. –tor´tur|ous|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • tor|tur|ous — «TR chuhr uhs», adjective. full of, involving, or causing torture; tormenting. SYNONYM(S): excruciating. –tor´tur|ous|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

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  • tor|ture — «TR chuhr», noun, verb, tured, tur|ing. –n. 1. the act or fact of inflicting very severe pain. Torture was formerly used to make people give evidence about crimes, or to make them confess. 2. a) a very severe pain or suffering; agony: »She… …   Useful english dictionary

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