EnglishMain Dictionary
torture
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun [U,C]
1 the act of causing sb severe pain in order to punish them or make them say or do sth:
Many of the refugees have suffered torture. * the use of torture * terrible instruments of torture * His confessions were made under torture. * I heard stories of gruesome tortures in prisons.
2 (informal) mental or physical suffering; sth that causes this:
The interview was sheer torture from start to finish.
verb [VN] [oftenpassive]
1 to hurt sb physically or mentally in order to punish them or make them tell you sth:
Many of the rebels were captured and tortured by secret police. * He was tortured into giving them the information.
2 to make sb feel extremely unhappy or anxious
SYNTORMENT:
He spent his life tortured by the memories of his childhood.
torturer noun
