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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

torture

/ˈtoɹt͡ʃɚ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does torture mean?

noun

  1. The infliction of severe pain or anguish, especially as an interrogation technique or punishment; (usually in the plural) a technique, method, or device which is designed to inflict such anguish.
  2. Sexual activity involving the infliction of pain to a certain body part or in a certain manner.
  3. Severe pain or anguish, of mind or body.
More meanings (2)

noun

  1. An unpleasant sensation or its infliction: embarrassment, heartache, etc.

verb

  1. To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone), usually with the aim of forcing confessions or punishing them.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈtoɹt͡ʃɚ/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The terrible torture and unreality of the last days were over, and he had come out now into perfect certainty and peace.
Virginia WoolfThe Voyage OutProject Gutenberg ebook #144
The Jesuits were quite balked by those Indians who, being burned at the stake, suggested new modes of torture to their tormentors.
Henry David ThoreauWalden, and On The Duty Of Civil DisobedienceProject Gutenberg ebook #205
More book examples (3)
Persons who would not confess were tied up and put to a sort of torture which was effective in securing new revelations.
Andrew Dickson WhiteHistory of the Warfare of Science with Theology in ChristendomProject Gutenberg ebook #505
WILFRED Aye, I have a pretty wit— a light, airy, joysome wit, spiced with anecdotes of prison cells and the torture chamber.
Arthur Sullivan; W. S. (William Schwenck) GilbertThe Complete Plays of Gilbert and SullivanProject Gutenberg ebook #808
Faith is a gift of God, which Man can neither give, nor take away by promise of rewards, or menaces of torture.
Thomas HobbesLeviathanProject Gutenberg ebook #3207