Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are torn between two or more things, you cannot decide which to choose, and so you feel anxious or troubled. □ [+ between ] Robb is torn between becoming a doctor and a career in athletics.

tor|na|do /tɔː ^r ne I doʊ/ (tornadoes or tornados ) N‑COUNT A tornado is a violent wind storm consisting of a tall column of air which spins round very fast and causes a lot of damage.

tor|pe|do /tɔː ^r piː doʊ/ (torpedoes , torpedoing , torpedoed )

1 N‑COUNT A torpedo is bomb that is shaped like a tube and that travels under water.

2 VERB [usu passive] If a ship is torpedoed , it is hit, and usually sunk, by a torpedo or torpedoes. □ [be V -ed] More than a thousand people died when the Lusitania was torpedoed.

3 VERB If someone torpedoes negotiations or plans, they deliberately prevent them from being completed or from being successful. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] These attacks are seen as an effort to torpedo the talks.

tor|pid /tɔː ^r p I d/ ADJ If you are torpid , you are mentally or physically inactive, especially because you are feeling lazy or sleepy. [FORMAL ]

tor|por /tɔː ^r pə ^r / N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Torpor is the state of being completely inactive mentally or physically, for example because of illness or laziness. [FORMAL ] □  He had slumped into a state of torpor from which nothing could rouse him. □  The sick person gradually falls into a torpor.

torque /tɔː ^r k/ N‑UNCOUNT Torque is a force that causes something to spin around a central point such as an axle. [TECHNICAL ]

tor|rent /tɒ rənt, [AM ] tɔː r-/ (torrents )

1 N‑COUNT A torrent is a lot of water falling or flowing rapidly or violently. □ [+ of ] Torrents of water gushed into the reservoir.

2 N‑COUNT A torrent of abuse or questions is a lot of abuse or questions directed continuously at someone. □ [+ of ] He turned round and directed a torrent of abuse at me.

tor|ren|tial /təre nʃ ^ə l, [AM ] tɔːr-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Torrential rain pours down very rapidly and in great quantities.

tor|rid /tɒ r I d, [AM ] tɔː r I d/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Torrid weather is extremely hot and dry. [LITERARY ] □  …the torrid heat of a Spanish summer.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A torrid relationship or incident involves very strong emotions connected with love and sex. □  She began a torrid love affair with a theatrical designer.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone or something has a torrid time, they experience a lot of difficulties. [BRIT , JOURNALISM ] □  Seles, the victim of a death threat earlier this week, has had a torrid time during the Championships.

tor|sion /tɔː ^r ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Torsion is a twisting effect on something such as a piece of metal or an organ of the body. [TECHNICAL ]

tor|so /tɔː ^r soʊ/ (torsos ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your torso is the main part of your body, and does not include your head, arms, and legs. [FORMAL ]

tort /tɔː ^r t/ (torts ) N‑VAR A tort is something that you do or fail to do which harms someone else and for which you can be sued for damages. [LEGAL ]

tor|til|la /tɔː ^r tiː jə/ (tortillas ) N‑VAR A tortilla is a piece of thin flat bread that first came from Mexico, and is made from corn and eggs.

tor|ti l|la chi p (tortilla chips ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Tortilla chips are thick crisps made from corn which are often served with dips such as salsa.

tor|toise /tɔː ^r təs/ (tortoises ) N‑COUNT A tortoise is a slow-moving animal with a shell into which it can pull its head and legs for protection.

tortoise|shell /tɔː ^r təsʃel/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Tortoiseshell is the hard shell of a kind of sea turtle. It is brown and yellow in colour and is often polished and used to make jewellery and ornaments.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Tortoiseshell means made of tortoiseshell or made of a material which resembles tortoiseshell. □  He wears huge spectacles with thick tortoiseshell frames.

tor|tu|ous /tɔː ^r tʃuəs/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tortuous road is full of bends and twists. □  The only road access is a tortuous mountain route.