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. NEW.FOR.DICT.COM 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

We have struggled to keep up with his torrent of falsehoods during the final weeks of the campaign, when he barnstormed the country making 600 to 700 false or misleading claims a week.

From Washington Post

We lay out the data resources you need to make sense of the coronavirus pandemic, and deal with the torrent of data we all face in our work and in our lives.

From Quartz

We hope these answers can help you, too—not just to make sense of the pandemic, but to deal with the torrent of data we all face in our work and in our lives.

From Quartz

To sustain the torrent of information available, the app doles out subsidies and devises monetization methods for creators, sharing ad revenue and allowing them to sell products.

From TechCrunch

Within minutes his mycological patter picks up speed, and he leaps between bulletins almost faster than he can talk, a ceaseless torrent of fungal enthusiasm.

From Nautilus

John Luther Adams lives up to the title of his composition, capturing an oceanic torrent of sound in an awe-inspiring performance.

From The Daily Beast

Backup dancers materialize, sparking a torrent of eye-catching choreography.

From The Daily Beast

The cascade of same-sex marriage rulings is now a torrent, each more quotable and image-ready than the last.

From The Daily Beast

The second cultural strain revealed itself in a torrent of abuse on Twitter and other forums.

From The Daily Beast

In response, Alexeyev unleashed a torrent of anti-Semitic abuse.

From The Daily Beast

For good or ill, the torrent of rebellion was suffered to break loose, and it soon engulfed a continent.

From Project Gutenberg

The mighty rushing torrent is the fashion, but who can do the wimpling, dimpling streamlet?

From Project Gutenberg

According to the greatness of their work, is their visitation also: they shall lead them to the torrent of the willows.

From Project Gutenberg

Instantly there rose before him the vision of a black torrent roaring through the tunnel.

From Project Gutenberg

He swept Aristide aside like an intercepting willow-branch, and poured forth a torrent of furious speech upon his wife.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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