torture

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtɔːtʃə/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something: the torture of political prisoners confessions extracted under torture [as modifier]: a torture chamber
  • great physical or mental suffering: the torture I’ve gone through because of loving you so
  • a cause of great physical or mental suffering: dances were absolute torture because I was so small

verb

[with object]
  • inflict severe pain on: most of the victims had been brutally tortured
  • cause great mental suffering to: he was tortured by grief

Derivatives

torturer

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'distortion, twisting', or a physical disorder characterized by this): via French from late Latin tortura 'twisting, torment', from Latin torquere 'to twist'