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. 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

Ironically, the fragmentation of news delivery has also delocalized us, as events near and far flow toward us in a torrent of collapsed context.

From Slate

Izan Matías, 5, and Rubén Matías, 3, were pulled from their father Victor Matías's arms when the torrent ripped through their home in Valencia on the evening of 29 October.

From BBC

And there it was, the creeping inevitability that became a torrent.

From Salon

Jonathan explained to us how the raging torrent had scooped up trucks parked next door to the Matías family home with one smashing through an external wall.

From BBC

His mother – the boys' grandma – revealed that Victor had been ready to throw himself into the torrent and surrender to his fate, but then stopped.

From BBC

Related Words

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