torture

Torture is severe mental or physical pain, or the cause of this pain.

(noun)

An example of torture is a man seeing a woman who just broke up with him out with another man.
An example of torture is a woman being stoned to death.

Torture is defined as to cause another extreme pain.

(verb)

An example of torture is being openly affectionate with a new lover in front of someone with whom you've just broken up.
An example of torture is cutting off a person's fingers.

See torture in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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.

Origin: Fr < LL tortura, a twisting, torture < pp. of L torquere, to twist: see tort

transitive verb tortured, torturing

Related Forms:

See torture in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. Infliction of severe physical pain as a means of punishment or coercion.
b. An instrument or a method for inflicting such pain.
Excruciating physical or mental pain; agony: the torture of waiting in suspense.
Something causing severe pain or anguish.

transitive verb tor·tured, tor·tur·ing, tor·tures