torture 
tor·ture (tôr′c̸hər)
noun
- the inflicting of severe pain to force information or confession, get revenge, etc.
- any method by which such pain is inflicted
- any severe physical or mental pain; agony; anguish
- a cause of such pain or agony
- Rare a violent twisting, distortion, perversion, etc.
Etymology: Fr < LL tortura, a twisting, torture < pp. of L torquere, to twist: see tort
Related Forms:
- torturer tor′·turer noun
- torturous tor′·tur·ous adjective
- torturously tor′·tur·ously adverb
torture
n.
torture
v.
Object
- chamber: Who would prefer that Saddam's torture chambers still be open?
- survivor: Provide training for health professionals working with torture survivors.
- beating: The risk of torture, beatings and prison life were all on the menu for an infidel such as myself.
- rape: Information about torture, rape and trauma refugees experienced is also not readily available.
- detainee: Our criminal laws make it a felony to conspire to torture a detainee abroad.
- imprisonment: In some parts of the world this persecution consists of torture, imprisonment.
Converse of object
- inflict: They also speak of almost unimaginable tortures inflicted upon Islamist prisoners in army interrogation centers.
Adjective modifier
- cruel: Enter the world of the female domination and cruel tortures.
- horrible: Even under these horrible tortures, Victor Jara magnificently sang a portion of the song of the Popular Unity party.
- psychological: Cuamba claimed he made this confession because of " psychological torture " .
Modifying Another Word
- under: Both the US and the British governments use evidence obtained under torture, in contravention of the Geneva Convention.
Preposition: in
- prison: Moses' arrest and torture in prison is not unusual in Uganda.
Preposition: of
Of course,Behaviourism 'works'. So does torture.
What istheuse offighting for thevoteif we donot havea country to vote in? With that patriotism that has nerved womento enduretorture inprison for thenational good, we ardently desire that our country shall be victorious.
I live not in myself, but I become Portion of that around me; and to me, High mountains are a feeling, but the hum Of human cities torture.
But I have lived, and have not lived in vain: My mind may loose its force, my blood its fire, And my frame perish even in conquering pain; But there is that within me which shall tire Torture and Time, and breathe when I expire. Something unearthly, which they deem not of, Like the remembered tone of a mute lyre, Shall on their softened spirits sink, and move In hearts all rocky now the late remorse of love.
Perhaps true knowledge only comes of death by torture in the country of the mind.
I know not how it wasöbut, with the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit There was aniciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heartöan unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime.
He has out-soared the shadow of our night; Envyand calumnyand hate and pain, And that unrest which men miscall delight, Can touch him not and torture not again; From the contagion of the world's slow stain He is secure, and now can never mourn A heart grown cold, a head grown grey in vain.
Whenlovegrows diseased,thebestthing we candoisto put it to a violent death. I cannot endure the torture of a lingering and consumptive passion.
Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow-creatures is amusing in itself.
Thy genius calls thee not to purchase fame In keen iambics, but mild anagram: Leave writing plays, and choose for thy command Some peaceful province in Acrostic Land. There thou mayest wings displayand altars raise, And torture one poor word ten thousand ways.
Browse dictionary entries near torture
- ‹ tortuousness
- ‹ tortuously
- ‹ tortuous
- ‹ tortuosity
- ‹ tortuosities
- ‹ Tortuga
- ‹ tortricid
- ‹ tortoni
- ‹ Tortola
- ‹ tortoiseshell
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