torrent

[tawr-uhnt, tor-]

noun

1. a stream of water flowing with great rapidity and violence.

2. a rushing, violent, or abundant and unceasing stream of anything.

   a torrent of lava.

3. a violent downpour of rain.

4. a violent, tumultuous, or overwhelming flow.

   a torrent of abuse.

   Synonyms: spate, flood, deluge, outburst

adjective

1. torrential.

torrent

/ ˈtɒrənt /

noun

1. a fast, voluminous, or violent stream of water or other liquid

2. an overwhelming flow of thoughts, words, sound, etc

3. computing a file that controls the transfer of data in a BitTorrent system See BitTorrent

adjective

1. rare,  like or relating to a torrent

Word History and Origins

Origin of torrent¹

1595–1605; < Latin torrent- (stem of torrēns ) seething, literally, burning, present participle of torrēre to burn, parch; torrid, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of torrent¹

C17: from French, from Latin torrēns (noun), from torrēns (adjective) burning, from torrēre to burn

Example Sentences

Europe's victory in New York last month came amid torrents of verbal abuse from the home crowd.

Read more on BBC

And here’s a reality of this moment: Given the torrent of threats to basic rights now emanating from Washington, movements of resistance need all the help they can get.

Read more on Salon

Europe's victory came amid torrents of verbal abuse from a New York crowd which was heavily criticised for its behaviour.

Read more on BBC

It was so deeply buried under the torrent of Trumpian insults and invective, and so badly obscured by an epoch-shifting moment of American self-humiliation on the global stage, as barely to be discernible.

Read more on Salon

The storm dumped inches of rain on the San Bernardino County mountains and foothills and unleashed a torrent of mud, rocks and trees, particularly in burn scars near Oak Glen and Forest Falls.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cascade 
• deluge 
• downpour 
• flood 
• outburst 
• spate 
• stream 
• tide 
• waterfall