torture
Definitions
The act of deliberately inflicting severe physical or mental pain, often to punish or force a confession.
酷刑；折磨——故意施加严重的肉体或精神痛苦，常用于惩罚或逼供。
Something that causes great suffering or is extremely unpleasant to endure.
（引申）煎熬，折磨人的事物。
To inflict severe pain on someone, especially to punish them or extract information.
拷打，对……施以酷刑；折磨。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedtort (twist) + -ure (act, result). Torture was originally the literal *twisting* of a body to cause pain — racks that stretched and wrenched the limbs. The word kept that wringing image even after the methods changed: any deliberate infliction of agony is torture, and figuratively, anything that 'twists you up inside' (a long wait, a bad film) is torture too.
Root tort still carries 27 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.subject to torture遭受酷刑
- 2.torture chamber刑讯室
- 3.psychological torture精神折磨
- 4.torture victim酷刑受害者
- 5.instrument of torture刑具
Example Sentences
- 1.
The prisoners were subjected to torture during the interrogation.
- 2.
Waiting for the exam results was sheer torture.
- 3.
It is illegal to torture detainees under international law.
Easily Confused
torturous vs tortuous — torturous (from torture) means 'causing pain': a torturous wait. tortuous (twisting) means 'full of bends': a tortuous mountain road, a tortuous argument. If it hurts → torturous; if it winds → tortuous.