ADJ
[usu v-link ADJ
] If you are
tornbetween
two or more things, you cannot decide which to choose, and so you feel anxious or troubled. □ [+ between
]
Robb is torn between becoming a doctor and a career in athletics.
tor|na|do
/tɔː
r
ne
I
doʊ/ (tornadoes
or tornados
) N‑COUNT
A
tornado
is a violent wind storm consisting of a tall column of air which spins round very fast and causes a lot of damage.
tor|pe|do
/tɔː
r
piː
doʊ/ (torpedoes
, torpedoing
, torpedoed
)
1
N‑COUNT
A
torpedo
is bomb that is shaped like a tube and that travels under water.
2
VERB
[usu passive] If a ship
is torpedoed
, it is hit, and usually sunk, by a torpedo or torpedoes. □ [be
V
-ed]
More than a thousand people died when the Lusitania was torpedoed.
3
VERB
If someone
torpedoes
negotiations or plans, they deliberately prevent them from being completed or from being successful. [INFORMAL
] □ [V
n]
These attacks are seen as an effort to torpedo the talks.
tor|pid
/tɔː
r
p
I
d/ ADJ
If you are
torpid
, you are mentally or physically inactive, especially because you are feeling lazy or sleepy. [FORMAL
]
tor|por
/tɔː
r
pə
r
/ N‑UNCOUNT
[oft a
N
]
Torpor
is the state of being completely inactive mentally or physically, for example because of illness or laziness. [FORMAL
] □
He had slumped into a state of torpor from which nothing could rouse him.
□
The sick person gradually falls into a torpor.
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
torrentof
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.