waterboarding

American

[waw-ter-bawr-ding, wot-er‑] / ˈwɔ tərˌbɔr dɪŋ, ˈwɒt ər‑ /

noun

a form of torture in which water is poured onto the face and head of the immobilized victim so as to induce a fear of drowning.

waterboarding British

/ ˈwɔːtəˌbɔːdɪŋ /

noun

a form of torture in which the victim is immobilized and has water poured on his or her face, producing a severe gag reflex, to simulate drowning

"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

Etymology

Origin of waterboarding

First recorded in 2000–05; water + board + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Waterboarding was banned by Bush's successor, President Barack Obama, shortly after he took office in 2009.

From Reuters • Dec. 16, 2010

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023