Torah

or To·ra

[toh-ruh, tawr-uh; Sephardic Hebrew toh-rah; Ashkenazic Hebrew toh-ruh, toi-ruh]

noun (sometimes lowercase)

the Pentateuch, being the first of the three Jewish divisions of the Old Testament.Compare Tanach.

a parchment scroll on which the Pentateuch is written, used in synagogue services.

the entire body of Jewish religious literature, law, and teaching as contained chiefly in the Old Testament and the Talmud.

law or instruction.

Origin of Torah

From the Hebrew word tōrāh instruction, law

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tora

Two and a half months later, Abdullah was transferred to the Tora prison complex in southern Cairo, where he now resides.
Al Jazeera Journo Abdullah El-Shamy Goes On Hunger Strike In Egyptian Jail|Jonathan Krohn|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Right now, thousands of miles away from his family in Tora Prison, Greste is certainly grateful for the global support.
Kids' Author on Trial In Egypt|Nina Strochlic|February 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But from Tora Bora onward, political life in America became one frustration after the next.
Dear Frank Luntz: Here’s How to Be Happy Again|James Poulos|January 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was no secret that the core of al Qaeda retreated to Tora Bora in the previous weeks.
How Bin Laden Escaped in 2001—The lessons of Tora Bora|Yaniv Barzilai|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Instead, the military opted to send forty additional Army special operators to Tora Bora.
How Bin Laden Escaped in 2001—The lessons of Tora Bora|Yaniv Barzilai|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They begin to dance the Dance of Tora, but soon break off to exchange happy greetings.
The N Plays of Japan|Arthur Waley
Stephen had to go, since Tora sophistically maintained that she had attended by proxy the day before.
Mrs. Maxon Protests|Anthony Hope
But judging from Tora's voice—it sounds really aggrieved—I think it's time we went and umpired about the dustbin.
Mrs. Maxon Protests|Anthony Hope
Methinks the marks in the pass of Gharendel were the marks of the camels of the children of Tora.'
Tancred|Benjamin Disraeli
I can't help it; it's absolutely impossible to get up a row with Tora.
Mrs. Maxon Protests|Anthony Hope

British Dictionary definitions for tora

Torah

noun

the Pentateuch
the scroll on which this is written, used in synagogue services

the whole body of traditional Jewish teaching, including the Oral Law

(modifier) promoting or according with traditional Jewish Law

Word Origin for Torah

C16: from Hebrew: precept, from yārāh to instruct

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tora

Torah

"the Pentateuch," 1570s, from Hebrew torah, literally "instruction, law," verbal noun from horah "he taught, showed."

Culture definitions for tora

Torah

[(toh-ruh, tawr-uh, toy-ruh)]

The law on which Judaism is founded (torah is Hebrew for “law”). This law is contained in the first five books of the Bible (see also Bible) (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Torah can also refer to the entire body of Jewish law and wisdom, including what is contained in oral tradition.