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torture

Syllabification: (tor·ture)

Pronunciation: /ˈtôrCHər/

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Definition of torture

noun

the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something, or for the pleasure of the person inflicting the pain.
great physical or mental suffering or anxiety:the torture I’ve gone through because of loving you so
a cause of suffering or anxiety: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 or anxiety to:he was tortured by grief

Derivatives

torturer

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'

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Other

torture

noun

verb

Derivatives

torturer

Origin:

torture in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for torture

More words in this category

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