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definitions

torrent

[ tawr-uhnt, tor- ]
/ ˈtɔr ənt, ˈtɒr- /
||
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noun

a stream of water flowing with great rapidity and violence.
a rushing, violent, or abundant and unceasing stream of anything: a torrent of lava.
a violent downpour of rain.
a violent, tumultuous, or overwhelming flow: a torrent of abuse.

adjective

torrential.

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RELATED WORDS

stream, downpour, cascade, deluge, spate, tide, flood, waterfall, outburst, effusion, rush, inundation, cloudburst, shower, flux, cataclysm, gush, overflow, flooding, cataract

Nearby words

  1. torrence,
  2. torrens,
  3. torrens system,
  4. torrens title,
  5. torrens, lake,
  6. torrential,
  7. torrentially,
  8. torres bodet,
  9. torres bodet, jaime,
  10. torres strait

Origin of torrent

1595–1605; < Latin torrent- (stem of torrēns) seething, literally, burning, present participle of torrēre to burn, parch; see torrid, -ent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for torrent

British Dictionary definitions for torrent

torrent

/ (ˈtɒrənt) /

noun

a fast, voluminous, or violent stream of water or other liquid
an overwhelming flow of thoughts, words, sound, etc
computing a file that controls the transfer of data in a BitTorrent systemSee BitTorrent

adjective

rare like or relating to a torrent

Word Origin for torrent

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

torrent

n.

c.1600, from French torrent, from Latin torrentem (nominative torrens) "rushing stream," originally "roaring, boiling, burning, parching," present participle of torrere "to parch" (see terrain). Sense of "any onrush" (of words, feelings, etc.) first recorded 1640s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper