Definitions for TORTURE
ˈtɔr tʃərtor·ture

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. anguish, torment, torturenoun

   extreme mental distress

2. torture, tormentnoun

   unbearable physical pain

3. agony, torment, torturenoun

   intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain

   "an agony of doubt"; "the torments of the damned"

4. distortion, overrefinement, straining, torture, twistingnoun

   the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean

5. torture, torturingverb

   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"

6. torment, torture, excruciate, rackverb

   torment emotionally or mentally

7. torture, excruciate, tormentverb

   subject to torture

   "The sinners will be tormented in Hell, according to the Bible"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. torturenoun

   Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.

2. torturenoun

   The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships.

   Every time she says 'goodbye' it is torture!

3. tortureverb

   To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).

   People who torture often have sadistic tendencies.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Torturenoun

   Etymology: torture, Fr. tortura, Lat.

   1. Torments judicially inflicted; pain by which guilt is punished, or confession extorted.

   Hecate
   Then led me trembling through those dire abodes,
   And taught the tortures of th’ avenging gods. Dryden.

   2. Pain; anguish; pang.

   Better be with the dead,
   Than on the torture of the mind to lie
   In restless extasy. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   Ghastly spasm or racking torture. John Milton.

2. To Tortureverb

   Etymology: from the noun.

   1. To punish with tortures.

   Hipparchus my enfranchis’d bondman,
   He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture. William Shakespeare.

   The scourge inexorable and the torturing hour. John Milton.

   2. To vex; to excruciate; to torment.

   Still must I cherish the dear, sad remembrance
   At once to torture, and to please my soul. Joseph Addison, Cato.

   3. To keep on the stretch.

   The bow tortureth the string continually, and thereby holdeth it in a continual trepidation. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Torture

   Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons such as punishment, extracting a confession, interrogation for information, or intimidating third parties. Some definitions are restricted to acts carried out by the state, but others include non-state organizations. Torture has been carried out since ancient times. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Western countries abolished the official use of torture in the judicial system, but torture continued to be used throughout the world. A variety of methods of torture are used, often in combination; the most common form of physical torture is beatings. Since the twentieth century, many torturers have preferred non-scarring or psychological methods to provide deniability. Torturers are enabled by organizations that facilitate and encourage their behavior. Most victims of torture are poor and marginalized people suspected of crimes, although torture against political prisoners or during armed conflict has received disproportionate attention. Judicial corporal punishment and capital punishment are sometimes seen as forms of torture, but this label is internationally controversial. Torture aims to break the victim's will and destroy their agency and personality. It is one of the most damaging experiences that a person can undergo and can also negatively affect perpetrating individuals and institutions. Public opinion research has shown general opposition to torture. Torture is prohibited under international law for all states under all circumstances and is explicitly forbidden by several treaties. Opposition to torture stimulated the formation of the human rights movement after World War II, and torture continues to be an important human rights issue. Although its incidence has declined, torture is still practiced by some countries.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Torturenoun

   extreme pain; anguish of body or mind; pang; agony; torment; as, torture of mind

2. Torturenoun

   especially, severe pain inflicted judicially, either as punishment for a crime, or for the purpose of extorting a confession from an accused person, as by water or fire, by the boot or thumbkin, or by the rack or wheel

3. Torturenoun

   the act or process of torturing

4. Tortureverb

   to put to torture; to pain extremely; to harass; to vex

5. Tortureverb

   to punish with torture; to put to the rack; as, to torture an accused person

6. Tortureverb

   to wrest from the proper meaning; to distort

7. Tortureverb

   to keep on the stretch, as a bow

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Torture

   Torture is the practice or act of deliberately inflicting severe physical pain and possibly injury on a person, though psychological and animal torture also exist. Torture has been carried out or sanctioned by individuals, groups and states throughout history from ancient times to modern day, and forms of torture can vary greatly in duration from only a few minutes to several days or even longer. Reasons for torture can include punishment, revenge, political re-education, deterrence, interrogation or coercion of the victim or a third party, or simply the sadistic gratification of those carrying out or observing the torture. The torturer may or may not intend to kill or injure the victim, but sometimes torture is deliberately fatal and can accompany forms of murder or capital punishment. The aim may also be to inflict pain but without causing fatal injury, or sometimes any injury at all. In other cases, the torturer may be indifferent to the condition of the victim. There is also torture that can be fatal eventually, but where attempts are made not to kill the victim quickly to prolong the length of time of the suffering. Although historically torture was sanctioned by some states, torture in the 21st century is prohibited under international law and the domestic laws of most countries. It is considered to be a violation of human rights, and is declared to be unacceptable by Article 5 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Signatories of the Third Geneva Convention and Fourth Geneva Convention officially agree not to torture prisoners in armed conflicts. Torture is also prohibited by the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which has been ratified by 147 countries.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Torture

   tor′tūr, n. a putting to the rack or severe pain to extort a confession, or as a punishment: extreme pain: anguish of body or mind.—v.t. to put to torture or to the rack: to put to extreme pain: to annoy: to vex.—n. Tor′turer.—adv. Tor′turingly, in a torturing manner: so as to torment or punish.—adj. Tor′turous, causing torture. [Late L. tortura, torment—torquēre.]

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Torture

   The intentional infliction of physical or mental suffering upon an individual or individuals, including the torture of animals.

Dictionary of Military and Associated TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. torture

   As defined by Title 18, US Code, Section 2340, it is any act committed by a person acting under color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. torture

   Song lyrics by torture -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by torture on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Anguish
   • Falsification
   • Injure
   • Pain
   • Suffering

Anagrams for TORTURE »

1. trouter

2. tutorer

How to pronounce TORTURE?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say TORTURE in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of TORTURE in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of TORTURE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of TORTURE in a Sentence

1. Tomeu Vadell:

   The US's worrisome for us because we're not getting any younger, the way they treat them is very bad. It's like the mental torture. It's not good for him.

2. Blake Lively:

   It’s a cruel and unusual form of torture, and then my daughter goes, ‘Dada!’ and she starts hugging and kissing the screen and waving at him, and he’s not waving back and she doesn’t understand why he’s not waving back. She thinks it’s like FaceTime. And it’s because Daddy’s getting it.

3. Kendall Coffey:

   ...what’s so important about this law is, it applies to torture wherever it takes place in the world if one is perpetrated by a U.S. citizen, which happened to be the case with this defendant, but also, if somebody else steps foot in the United States who has committed torture crimes in a foreign country, that person can also be prosecuted. " Kendall Coffey on the trial of Chucky Taylor.

4. Lee Bates:

   Torture is probably an understatement.

5. George Orwell, 1984 Book 3, Chapter 3:

   Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=TORTURE
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Torture
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=TORTURE
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/TORTURE
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=TORTURE
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=TORTURE
8. ^ Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
   https://www.tradoc.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AD1029823-DOD-Dictionary-of-Military-and-Associated-Terms-2017.pdf