First recorded in 1350–1400.
Comes via Middle English from the Latin word tortuōsus, which derives from the verb torquēre, “to twist, bend.”
Sign up for more Word of the Day!

\r\nEXAMPLES OF TORTUOUS\r\n

The tortuous road through the mountains made for a challenging but scenic drive.
The author's writing style was known for its elegant prose and tortuous plot twists.

\r\nIt's National Poetry Month, and we’ve created a challenge that really is for everyone. Submit now!","audio":"https://static.sfdict.com/audio/T03/T0390200.mp3","definitions":[{"partofspeech":"adjective","data":"full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked."}],"examples":[],"imageUrl":"https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tortuous_IG.png","accentColor":"#0063D7"}},"status":"succeeded"}},"meta":{"requestId":"IeUMcBLtylkE6Xv640-zT","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"arsenate","entry":"arsenate"},{"slug":"arsenic","entry":"arsenic"},{"slug":"arsenic-acid","entry":"arsenic acid"},{"slug":"arsenical","entry":"arsenical"},{"slug":"arsenic-disulfide","entry":"arsenic disulfide"}],"after":[{"slug":"arsenic-trioxide","entry":"arsenic trioxide"},{"slug":"arsenic-trisulfide","entry":"arsenic trisulfide"},{"slug":"arsenide","entry":"arsenide"},{"slug":"arsenious","entry":"arsenious"},{"slug":"arsenite","entry":"arsenite"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arsenic-trichloride"},"requestId":"xK-zAIBfXj8Z43YZ04BEN","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arsenic-trichloride"},"requestId":"6u-8vW3J0c1DXBoyG0gt7","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"arsenic trichloride","slug":"arsenic-trichloride"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a colorless or yellow, oily, poisonous liquid, AsCl\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"3\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \", used chiefly as an intermediate in the manufacture of organic arsenicals.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":{"labelSetText":"Chemistry."},"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"arsenic-trichloride"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"arsenic-trichloride"},"requestId":"pe3hAQXHTROZJghH2TOFm","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"arsenic-trichloride","displayForm":"arsenic trichloride","canonicalSlug":"arsenic-trichloride","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e5bfe46.71c3","type":"normal","entry":"arsenic trichloride","entrySyllabified":"arsenic trichloride","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a colorless or yellow, oily, poisonous liquid, AsCl3, used chiefly as an intermediate in the manufacture of organic arsenicals.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":"Chemistry."}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":["Also called butter of arsenic. "],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":9079,"index-rank-01":["arsenic trichloride"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":["butter of arsenic"],"index-rank-04":["arsenic trichloride's","arsenic trichlorides","arsenic trichlorides'"],"index-rank-05":[],"index-rank-06":[],"index-rank-07":[],"index-rank-08":[],"index-rank-09":[],"index-rank-10":[],"index-rank-11":["butter arsenic"],"index-rank-12":[],"index-rank-13":[],"index-rank-14":[],"index-rank-15":[],"categoryId":"43","complexityScore":0.5085460511535924,"gradeLevel":"college","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arsenic-trichloride"},"requestId":"-gUyTxT5q0L_eft_6zW-k","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":["axenic","irenic","arsenal","scenic","oceanic","ascetic","atonic","arson","sonic","acetic","assent","ironic","aphonic","eugenic","organic"],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"axenic","slug":"axenic"},{"displayForm":"irenic","slug":"irenic"},{"displayForm":"arsenal","slug":"arsenal"},{"displayForm":"scenic","slug":"scenic"},{"displayForm":"oceanic","slug":"oceanic"},{"displayForm":"ascetic","slug":"ascetic"},{"displayForm":"atonic","slug":"atonic"},{"displayForm":"arson","slug":"arson"},{"displayForm":"sonic","slug":"sonic"},{"displayForm":"acetic","slug":"acetic"},{"displayForm":"assent","slug":"assent"},{"displayForm":"ironic","slug":"ironic"},{"displayForm":"aphonic","slug":"aphonic"},{"displayForm":"eugenic","slug":"eugenic"},{"displayForm":"organic","slug":"organic"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"arsenic-trichloride"},"requestId":"Lx2Sjk-vYyvj0iNafZ83t","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

arsenic trichloride

noun

Word of the Day