Oxford Basic American Dictionary

connected with something that is happening now a topical joke

torch / tortj / noun [ count ] ( plural torch .es )

a long piece of wood with burning material at the end that you carry to give light the Olympic torch

tore, torn forms of tear 2

tor • na • do / tor ' neidou / noun [ count ] ( plural tor . na - does )

a violent storm with a very strong wind that blows in a circle

Thesaurus

wind air that moves quickly outside: The wind was blowing hard. ♦ The trees were swaying in the wind . ♦ Several trees were blown over in the strong winds . ♦ A gust of wind blew my hat off.

hurricane a violent storm with very strong winds, which starts over the ocean: Many of the buildings here were destroyed in the hurricane. ♦ Hurricane Rita is now approaching the coast of Florida. tornado a violent storm with very strong winds that move in a circle. There is often also a tall cloud which is narrow at the bottom and wide at the top: A tornado tore through the town yesterday. ♦ The hotel was completely destroyed by a tornado. ♦ a tornado warning breeze a light wind: A light breeze was blowing. ♦ The flowers were gently moving in the breeze. ♦ a cool/warm breeze

gale a very strong wind: The roof of the school was torn off by the gale. ♦ The gale blew down several trees.

tor • pe • do / tor ' pidou / noun [ count ] ( plural tor - pe - does )

a type of bomb in the shape of a long tube, which is fired from a ship that travels under the water (called a submarine )

tor • rent / ' torsnt / noun [ count ] a large amount of water moving very quickly The rain was coming down in torrents . ►tor • ren • tial / ts ' renjl / adjective

torrential rain

tor • so / ' torsou / noun [ count ] ( plural tor . sos ) the main part of your body, not your head, arms, and legs

tor • til • la / tor' tiya / noun [ count ]

a type of very thin, round Mexican bread. It is usually eaten hot and filled with meat, cheese, etc.

tor • toise / ' tortas / noun [ count ]

an animal with a hard shell on its back, which lives on land and moves very slowly

— Look at turtle .

tor • ture / ' tortfar / noun [ noncount ]

the act of making someone feel great pain, often to make them give information

His confession was obtained under torture . ►tor • ture verb

(tor . tures,tor tur . ing , tor . tured )

Many of the prisoners had been tortured.

toss / tos / verb ( toss . es , toss . ing , tossed )

1 to throw something quickly and without care

tossed the paper into the trash.

to move quickly up and down or from side to side; to make something do this

The boat was being tossed by the huge waves.

tO .tal 1 Ф / 'toutl/ adjective

complete; if you count everything or everyone

There was total silence in the classroom.

What was the total number of people at the meeting?

tO .tal 2Ф/ 'toutl / noun [ count ]

( MATH ) the number you have when you add everything

together

Enter the total at the bottom of the page.

tO .tal . ly О / 'tootl-i / adverb completely I totally agree.

tOUCll iQ/UtjV verb (touch es , touch . ing,touched ) PRONUNCIATION

The word touch sounds like much .

to put a part of your body, usually your hand or finger, onto someone or something

Don't touch the paint — it's still wet. He touched me on the arm.

to be so close to another thing or person that there is no space in between

The two wires were touching.