noun

1. the inflicting of severe pain to force information or confession, get revenge, etc.
2. any method by which such pain is inflicted
3. any severe physical or mental pain; agony; anguish
4. a cause of such pain or agony
5. Rare a violent twisting, distortion, perversion, etc.

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

transitive verb tortured -·tured, torturing -·tur·ing

1. to subject to torture
2. to cause extreme physical or mental pain to; agonize
3. to twist or distort (meaning, language, etc.)