tors-, tort-, -tort, tortu-, torqu-

(Latin: bend, curve, turn, twist)

torch (s) (noun), torches (pl)
1. A stick of wood dipped in wax or with one end wrapped in combustible material, set on fire and carried, especially in former times, as a source of light.
2. A portable light produced by the flame of a stick of resinous wood or of a flammable material twisted around the end of a stick of wood.
3. A portable device that emits an extremely hot flame; for example, something used in welding or for stripping paint.
4. An informal term; such as, to carry a torch for someone, or to be in love with somebody; especially, when this feeling is secret or unrequited (not returned in the same way).
5. A reference to a "flashlight", primarily a British usage.
torch (verb), torches; torched; torching
1. To cause to burn or to undergo combustion; especially, with extraordinary rapidity, force, or thoroughness.
2. A slang term for setting fire to something; especially, as an act of arson or terrorism.
torment (s) (noun), torments (pl)
Extreme physical or mental pain that someone suffers, often caused deliberately by someone else: "No one could understand her inner torment."

"After years of torments, she finally left her husband."

torment (verb), torments; tormented; tormenting
To cause someone, or something, to feel extreme physical or mental pain: "Harry's mother told him to stop tormenting his sister."

"Jim was tormented by thoughts of death."

tormentingly (adverb), more tormentingly, most tormentingly
1. Descriptive of torture or pain: "The neighbor's dog tormentingly attacked the little boy, but his cat jumped on the dog and chased it away."
2. Any extreme pain, anguish, or misery; either physical or mental.
tormentingness (s) (noun), tormentingnesses (pl)
tormentor (s) (noun), tormentors (pl)
tormentum (s) (noun), tormenta (pl)
An elastic device which threw stones and darts to inflict pain or to obtain information from their enemies.
toroid (s) (noun), toroids (pl)
1. In geometry, a surface that is created by the rotation of any closed curves; such as, a circle or ellipse around an axis in its plane.
2. In electricity, an electromagnetic coil that is wound on a ring of circular cross-sections.
toroidal (adjective), more toroidal, most toroidal
torque (s) (noun), torques (pl)
1. A force that causes twisting or turning; for example, the force generated by an internal-combustion engine to turn a vehicle's drive shaft.
2. The tendency of a force applied to an object to cause the object to rotate around a given point: "A rotational torque is used as a basic measure of the propulsive effect of a powered wheel."
3. A metal collar or armband worn by the ancient Gauls and Britons.
torquemeter (s) (noun), torquemeters (pl)
torsiometer (s) (noun), torsiometers (pl)
torsion (TOHR shuhn) (s) (noun), torsions (pl)
1. A twisting, or turning, motion of a solid item around its axis of symmetry, produced by the application of opposing forces or torques at opposite ends of something: The decorative wrought iron railing on Mary's balcony was created by exerting torsions at both ends of the rod of metal.
2. The twisting of any part that is free to move in the body: The intestines can experience torsion which may cause obstructions of the blood supply to the affected organ and pain is usually the first symptom.

If the torsion is not corrected for the part, there can be a development of tissue death and infection.

torsion balance (s) (noun), torsion balances (pl)
A device designed to measure weak gravitational, electrostatic, or magnetic forces by determining the amount of torsion that they cause in a wire or filament.

Inter-related cross references involving word units meaning "bend, curve, turn": diversi-; diverticul-; flect-, flex-; gyro-; meand-; -plex; streph-; stroph-; tropo-; verg-; vers-; volv-.