n.
Pronunciation: ' to ̇ r-ch ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old French, from Late Latin tortura, from Latin tortus, past participle of torqu ē re to twist; probably akin to Old High German dr ā hsil turner, Greek atraktos spindle
Date: 1540
1 a : anguish of body or mind : AGONY b : something that causes agony or pain
2 : the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure
3 : distortion or overrefinement of a meaning or an argument : STRAINING