torque /tɔː r k/ N‑UNCOUNT Torque is a force that causes something to spin around a central point such as an axle. [TECHNICAL ]
tor|rent /tɒ rənt, [AM ] tɔː r-/ (torrents )
1 N‑COUNT A torrent is a lot of water falling or flowing rapidly or violently. □ [+ of ] Torrents of water gushed into the reservoir.
2 N‑COUNT A torrent of abuse or questions is a lot of abuse or questions directed continuously at someone. □ [+ of ] He turned round and directed a torrent of abuse at me.
tor|ren|tial /təre nʃ ə l, [AM ] tɔːr-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Torrential rain pours down very rapidly and in great quantities.
tor|rid /tɒ r I d, [AM ] tɔː r I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Torrid weather is extremely hot and dry. [LITERARY ] □ …the torrid heat of a Spanish summer.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A torrid relationship or incident involves very strong emotions connected with love and sex. □ She began a torrid love affair with a theatrical designer.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone or something has a torrid time, they experience a lot of difficulties. [BRIT , JOURNALISM ] □ Seles, the victim of a death threat earlier this week, has had a torrid time during the Championships.
tor|sion /tɔː r ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Torsion is a twisting effect on something such as a piece of metal or an organ of the body. [TECHNICAL ]
tor|so /tɔː r soʊ/ (torsos ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your torso is the main part of your body, and does not include your head, arms, and legs. [FORMAL ]
tort /tɔː r t/ (torts ) N‑VAR A tort is something that you do or fail to do which harms someone else and for which you can be sued for damages. [LEGAL ]
tor|til|la /tɔː r tiː jə/ (tortillas ) N‑VAR A tortilla is a piece of thin flat bread that first came from Mexico, and is made from corn and eggs.
tor|ti l|la chi p (tortilla chips ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Tortilla chips are thick crisps made from corn which are often served with dips such as salsa.
tor|toise /tɔː r təs/ (tortoises ) N‑COUNT A tortoise is a slow-moving animal with a shell into which it can pull its head and legs for protection.
tortoise|shell /tɔː r təsʃel/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Tortoiseshell is the hard shell of a kind of sea turtle. It is brown and yellow in colour and is often polished and used to make jewellery and ornaments.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Tortoiseshell means made of tortoiseshell or made of a material which resembles tortoiseshell. □ He wears huge spectacles with thick tortoiseshell frames.
tor|tu|ous /tɔː r tʃuəs/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tortuous road is full of bends and twists. □ The only road access is a tortuous mountain route.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tortuous process or piece of writing is very long and complicated. □ …these long and tortuous negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
tor|ture ◆◇◇ /tɔː r tʃə r / (tortures , torturing , tortured )
1 VERB If someone is tortured , another person deliberately causes them great pain over a period of time, in order to punish them or to make them reveal information. □ [be V -ed] French police are convinced that she was tortured and killed. □ [V n] They never again tortured a prisoner in his presence. ● N‑VAR Torture is also a noun. □ …alleged cases of torture and murder by the security forces.
2 VERB To torture someone means to cause them to suffer mental pain or anxiety. □ [V n] He would not torture her further by trying to argue with her. □ [V pron-refl + with ] She tortured herself with fantasies of Bob and his new girlfriend.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If you say that something is torture or a torture , you mean that it causes you great mental or physical suffering. [INFORMAL ] □ Waiting for the result was torture.
tor|tur|er /tɔː r tʃərə r / (torturers ) N‑COUNT A torturer is someone who tortures people.
tor|tur|ous /tɔː r tʃərəs/ ADJ Something that is torturous is extremely painful and causes great suffering. □ This is a torturous, agonizing way to kill someone.
Tory ◆◆◇ /tɔː ri/ (Tories ) ADJ In Britain, a Tory politician or voter is a member of or votes for the Conservative Party. □ …the former Tory Party chairman. ● N‑COUNT Tory is also a noun. □ The Tories have launched their election campaign.
toss /tɒ s, [AM ] tɔː s/ (tosses , tossing , tossed )
1 VERB If you toss something somewhere, you throw it there lightly, often in a rather careless way. □ [V n prep/adv] He screwed the paper into a ball and tossed it into the fire. □ [V n n] He tossed Malone a bottle of water, and took one himself.
2 VERB If you toss your head or toss your hair, you move your head backwards, quickly and suddenly, often as a way of expressing an emotion such as anger or contempt. □ [V n] 'I'm sure I don't know.' Cook tossed her head. □ [V n prep/adv] Gasping, she tossed her hair out of her face. ● N‑COUNT Toss is also a noun. □ [+ of ] With a toss of his head and a few hard gulps, Bob finished the last of his coffee.
3 VERB In sports and informal situations, if you decide something by tossing a coin, you spin a coin into the air and guess which side of the coin will face upwards when it lands. □ [V n] We tossed a coin to decide who would go out and buy the buns. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Toss is also a noun. □ [+ of ] It would be better to decide it on the toss of a coin.