torrent
[tawr-uh nt, tor-]
- 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.
Show More
Show More
Origin of torrent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for torrent on Thesaurus.com4. outburst, deluge, flood, spate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for torrent
Contemporary Examples
Backup dancers materialize, sparking a torrent of eye-catching choreography.
The Making of Kiesza: From Navy Sharpshooter to Beauty Queen to Pop DivaMarlow Stern
October 20, 2014
The cascade of same-sex marriage rulings is now a torrent, each more quotable and image-ready than the last.
The second cultural strain revealed itself in a torrent of abuse on Twitter and other forums.
In response, Alexeyev unleashed a torrent of anti-Semitic abuse.
And as usual, Dermer levels his accusations with a torrent of intellectual self-regard and little actual evidence.
Historical Examples
Let us rejoice that one such partisan was now at hand to stem the torrent of abuse.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
After that, in a torrent, came Harriet's declaration of independence.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
The Kavirondo, his eyes rolling, shot forth a torrent of language.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
But are you voluble enough to drown all sense in a torrent of words?
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
It all poured out of him in a torrent, his hand on my knee most of the time.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
torrent
- 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
Show More
- rare like or relating to a torrent
Show More
Word Origin
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
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.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper