Definition of Torture

1. Noun. Extreme mental distress.

Exact synonyms: Anguish, Torment
Generic synonyms: Distress, Hurt, Suffering
Derivative terms: Anguish, Anguish, Torment

2. Verb. Torment emotionally or mentally. "The bad news will torture him"
Exact synonyms: Excruciate, Rack, Torment
Generic synonyms: Anguish, Hurt, Pain
Derivative terms: Excruciation, Rack, Torment, Torment, Tormenter, Tormenter, Tormentor, Torturer

3. Noun. Unbearable physical pain.
Exact synonyms: Torment
Generic synonyms: Hurting, Pain
Derivative terms: Torment, Torturous

4. Verb. Subject to torture. "They want to torture the prisoners "; "The sinners will be tormented in Hell, according to the Bible"
Exact synonyms: Excruciate, Torment
Generic synonyms: Injure, Wound
Specialized synonyms: Rack, Martyr, Martyrise, Martyrize
Derivative terms: Excruciation, Excruciation, Torment, Tormenter, Tormenter, Torturer, Torturing

5. Noun. Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain. "The torments of the damned"
Exact synonyms: Agony, Torment
Generic synonyms: Hurt, Suffering
Derivative terms: Agonal, Agonise, Agonise, Agonist, Agonist, Torment, Torturous

6. Noun. The act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean.
Exact synonyms: Distortion, Overrefinement, Straining, Twisting
Generic synonyms: Falsification, Misrepresentation
Derivative terms: Distort, Overrefine, Twist

7. Noun. The deliberate, systematic, or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons in an attempt to force another person to yield information or to make a confession or for any other reason. "It required unnatural torturing to extract a confession"

Definition of Torture

1. n. Extreme pain; anguish of body or mind; pang; agony; torment; as, torture of mind.

2. v. t. To put to torture; to pain extremely; to harass; to vex.

Definition of Torture

1. Noun. Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony. ¹

2. Noun. (chiefly literary) The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Torture

1. to subject to severe physical pain [v -TURED, -TURING, -TURES]

Medical Definition of Torture

1. The intentional infliction of physical or mental suffering upon an individual or individuals, including the torture of animals. (12 Dec 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Torture

tortricid
tortricid moth
tortricids
tortrix
tortrixes
torts
tortulous
tortuosities
tortuosity
tortuous
tortuous aorta
tortuously
tortuousness
tortuousnesses
torturable
torture (current term)
torture chamber
torture stake
torture stakes
tortured
torturedly
torturedness
torturer
torturers
tortures
torturesome
torturess
torturesses
torturest
tortureth

Literary usage of Torture

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The History of England from the Accession of James II by Thomas Babington Macaulay Macaulay (1907)
"In England torture had always been illegal. In the most servile times the ... The torture was not mentioned in the Petition of Right, or in any of the ..."

2. Othello by William Shakespeare (2001)
"torture, oh} torture: O Qq. 448. Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Qq. 443. seize vpon] WALKER (Crit. iii, 293) : That is, take possession of; the law term, ..."

3. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and (1911)
"The examination was not to begin by torture; other proofs must be exhausted ... Repetition of the torture could only be ordered in case of inconsistent ..."

4. A History of the Inquisition of Spain by Henry Charles Lea (1907)
"It was a universal rule that torture could be applied only once, unless new evidence ... Though torture could not be repeated, it could be continued and, ..."

5. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1880)
"They found the use of torture established, ... contain the sentiments of the most celebrated civilians on the subject of torture. They strictly confine it ..."

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