noun
torture
TAWT-shuh
noun
1
The deliberate infliction of severe pain, especially to punish someone or force information out of them.
"The regime was condemned internationally for its use of torture."
"The prisoner was subjected to weeks of torture."
2
Severe mental or physical suffering.
"Waiting for the exam results was pure torture."
verb
1
To deliberately inflict severe pain on someone, often to punish or extract information.
"The film depicts prisoners of war being tortured."
"She felt tortured by guilt over the accident."
How to Use Torture
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeliberately causing severe pain or suffering — literally (physical torture) or figuratively (something agonizing to endure).
Common pairings
subjected to torture
sheer torture
torture someone
Word Forms
tortured past tense, tortures plural, tortures singular
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Etymology
From Old French torture, from Late Latin tortura ("a twisting, writhing"), from Latin tortus, past participle of torquere, "to twist."