<B>torques, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Zoology.) a ringlike band or marking around the neck of an animal, as of hair or feathers of a special color or texture; collar. </DL>
<A NAME="torr">
<B>torr, </B>noun, pl. <B>torr.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a unit of pressure equivalent to the amount of pressure that will support a column of mercury one millimeter high; 1/760 of an atmosphere; 1333.22 microbars. </DL>
<A NAME="torrefaction">
<B>torrefaction, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the act or process of torrefying. <DD><B> 2. </B>the state of being torrefied. </DL>
<A NAME="torrefy">
<B>torrefy, </B>transitive verb, <B>-fied,</B> <B>-fying.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to dry or parch with heat; dry out; roast. <BR> <I>Ex. torrefied drugs, torrefied metallic ores.</I> (SYN) bake. </DL>
<A NAME="torrenssystem">
<B>Torrens system,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a system of registering titles of real estate, designed to simplify the transfer of land, used especially in the British Commonwealth and in Europe. </DL>
<A NAME="torrent">
<B>torrent, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a violent, rushing stream of water. <BR> <I>Ex. The mountain torrent dashed over the rocks.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a heavy downpour. <BR> <I>Ex. The rain came down in a torrent during the thunderstorm.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) any violent, rushing stream; flood. <BR> <I>Ex. a torrent of lava from a volcano, a torrent of abuse, a torrent of questions.</I> (SYN) inundation. <DD><I>adj. </I> rushing like a torrent; torrential. </DL>
<A NAME="torrential">
<B>torrential, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of, caused by, or like a torrent. <BR> <I>Ex. torrential rains, (Figurative.) a torrential flow of words.</I> (SYN) raging, tumultuous. adv. <B>torrentially.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="torricellislaw">
<B>Torricelli's law</B> or <B>theorem,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a principle in hydrodynamics which states that the velocity with which a liquid flows through an opening in a container equals the velocity of a body falling from the surface of the liquid to the opening. </DL>
<A NAME="torrid">
<B>torrid, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>very hot; burning; scorching. <BR> <I>Ex. torrid weather. July is usually a torrid month.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>exposed or subject to great heat. <BR> <I>Ex. torrid deserts.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) very ardent; passionate. <BR> <I>Ex. a torrid love scene.</I> adv. <B>torridly.</B> noun <B>torridness.</B> </DL>
<B>Torridonian, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Geology.) <DD><I>noun </I> the sedimentary Pre-Cambrian sandstone occurring in northwestern Scotland. <DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with this sandstone. </DL>
<A NAME="torridzone">
<B>Torrid Zone,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the very warm region between the two Temperate Zones and bounded by the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn; the tropics. The equator divides the Torrid Zone. <BR> <I>Ex. Most of Brazil is in the Torrid Zone.</I> </DL>
<B>torsade, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a twisted fringe, cord, or ribbon, used as an ornament in headdresses and curtains. <DD><B> 2. </B>a carved or molded ornament like this. </DL>
<A NAME="torsel">
<B>torsel, </B>noun. <B>=tassel</B> (2).</DL>
<A NAME="torsibility">
<B>torsibility, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the capability of being twisted. <DD><B> 2. </B>the tendency to straighten out after being twisted. </DL>
<A NAME="torsion">
<B>torsion, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the act or process of twisting. <DD><B> 2. </B>the condition of being twisted. <DD><B> 3. </B>the twisting or turning of a body by two equal and opposite forces. <DD><B> 4. </B>the tendency of a twisted object to straighten out. adj. <B>torsionless.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="torsional">
<B>torsional, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of, having to do with, or resulting from torsion. <BR> <I>Ex. torsional rubber spring suspension.</I> adv. <B>torsionally.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="torsionbalance">
<B>torsion balance,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for measuring small, horizontal forces by the amount of torsion they cause in a wire. </DL>
<A NAME="torsionbar">
<B>torsion bar,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a type of suspension used in an automobile, resembling a coiled spring that has been straightened out into a rod. When the automobile goes over a bump, the shock is absorbed along the line of the bar by a series of twisting motions. </DL>
<A NAME="torsk">
<B>torsk, </B>noun, pl. <B>torsks</B> or (collectively) <B>torsk.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B><B>=cusk </B>(def. 1). <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=cod</B> (1) (def. 1). </DL>
<A NAME="torso">
<B>torso, </B>noun, pl. <B>-sos,</B> <B>-si.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the trunk of the human body. <DD><B> 2. </B>the trunk or body of a statue without any head, arms, or legs. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) something left mutilated or unfinished. </DL>
<A NAME="tort">
<B>tort, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Law.) any wrong, harm, or injury for which the injured party has the right to sue for damages in a civil court, with the exception of a breach of contract. <BR> <I>Ex. Torts include someone's trespassing on your land or using your idea for a movie script (Harry Kalven, Jr.).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="torte">
<B>torte, </B>noun, pl. <B>torten,</B> <B>tortes.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a rich cake made with beaten egg whites, nuts, fruit, and little flour. <DD><B> 2. </B>a cake with thin layers of custard, sometimes preserved fruit, and chocolate. </DL>
<A NAME="tortellini">
<B>tortellini, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> small, round pieces of dough filled with chopped meat and cooked in boiling water. </DL>
<A NAME="tortfeasor">
<B>tortfeasor, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Law.) a person who is guilty of a tort; wrongdoer. </DL>
<A NAME="torticollis">
<B>torticollis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a muscular disorder in which the neck is twisted and the head turned to one side; wryneck. </DL>
<A NAME="tortile">
<B>tortile, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>twisted; coiled; winding. <DD><B> 2. </B>that can be twisted. </DL>
<A NAME="tortilla">
<B>tortilla, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a thin, flat, round cake made of corn meal, commonly eaten in Spanish America. It is baked on a flat surface and served hot. </DL>
<A NAME="tortious">
<B>tortious, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Law.) having to do with, like, or involving a tort. </DL>
<B>tortoise, </B>noun, pl. <B>-toises</B> or <B>-toise.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1a. </B>a turtle living only on land, especially in dry regions. Tortoises have stumpy legs and a high, arched shell. <DD><B> b. </B>any turtle. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a very slow person or thing. </DL>
<A NAME="tortoisebeetle">
<B>tortoise beetle,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a small beetle shaped somewhat like a tortoise. </DL>
<A NAME="tortoiseshell">
<B>tortoise shell,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the mottled, yellow-and-brown shell of some turtles, especially the hawksbill turtle. It is much used for combs and ornaments. <DD><B> 2. </B>any one of several butterflies spotted with yellow and black. <DD><B> 3. </B><B>=tortoise-shell cat.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="tortoiseshell">
<B>tortoise-shell, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>made of tortoise shell. <DD><B> 2. </B>mottled like a tortoise shell. </DL>
<A NAME="tortoiseshellcat">
<B>tortoise-shell cat,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a domestic cat with mottled colors like those of tortoise shell. </DL>
<B>tortoni, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a rich ice cream or mousse, often containing pieces of almond and maraschino cherries. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=biscuit tortoni.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="tortricid">
<B>tortricid, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or belonging to a family of small, thick-bodied moths. <DD><I>noun </I> a tortricid moth. </DL>
<A NAME="tortrix">
<B>tortrix, </B>noun. =tortricid.</DL>
<A NAME="tortuosity">
<B>tortuosity, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ties.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the quality or condition of being tortuous; twistedness; sinuosity. <DD><B> 2. </B>a twisted or crooked part, passage, or thing. <DD><B> 3. </B>a twist, bend or crook in something. </DL>
<A NAME="tortuous">
<B>tortuous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting; winding; crooked. <BR> <I>Ex. We found the river's course very tortuous. We wind through tortuous ravines (John Tyndall).</I> (SYN) sinuous, serpentine, zigzag, circuitous. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) not direct or straightforward; mentally or morally crooked. <BR> <I>Ex. Liars use tortuous reasoning to keep from doing what they don't want to do.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Geometry.) having no two successive parts in the same plane. <BR> <I>Ex. a tortuous curve.</I> adv. <B>tortuously.</B> noun <B>tortuousness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="torture">
<B>torture, </B>noun, verb, <B>-tured,</B> <B>-turing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the act or fact of inflicting very severe pain. Torture was formerly used to make people give evidence about crimes, or to make them confess. <DD><B> 2a. </B>a very severe pain or suffering; agony. <BR> <I>Ex. She suffered tortures from a toothache.</I> (SYN) anguish, misery, distress. <DD><B> b. </B>a cause of severe pain or suffering. <BR> <I>Ex. The sight of his sick brother was torture to him.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) a violent and continuous twisting, pushing, or shaking that taxes a thing to the limit. <BR> <I>Ex. the torture of a boat by pounding seas.</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to cause very severe pain or suffering to; torment. <BR> <I>Ex. That cruel boy tortures animals. The fear of failure tortured him.</I> (SYN) rack, persecute, distress. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to twist the meaning or form of. <BR> <I>Ex. to torture a word, sentence, or idea.</I> (SYN) strain, distort, pervert. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) to strain, twist, or force out of its natural form. <BR> <I>Ex. Winds tortured the trees. An early Victorian room ... full ... of twisted and tortured mahogany (Arnold Bennett).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>to puzzle or perplex greatly. <BR> <I>Ex. a mind tortured by problems.</I> noun <B>torturer.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="torturesome">
<B>torturesome, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> characterized by or causing torture; extremely painful or distressing. <BR> <I>Ex. torturesome dreams.</I> </DL>
