好词典

tortures

UK //ˈtɔːtʃəz//US //ˈtɔːrtʃərz//

词源

源自拉丁语 'tortura'(扭曲,折磨),通过古法语 'torture' 进入英语,最初与刑讯逼供的扭伤肢体行为相关。

noun

❶ 指身体或精神上的极度痛苦,通常由他人故意施加或由极端环境造成。常用于描述战争、审讯或疾病带来的剧烈折磨。

“The prisoners endured terrible tortures during the war.”

(战争期间囚犯们遭受了可怕的折磨。)

“Her migraines were sheer tortures that lasted for days.”

(她的偏头痛是持续数天的纯粹折磨。)

同义词:torment, agony, suffering

verb

❶ 使某人遭受剧烈痛苦,可能是身体伤害或精神压迫。既可用于具体刑讯场景,也可比喻令人极度困扰的情况。

“The dictator tortured his political opponents mercilessly.”

(独裁者无情地折磨他的政敌。)

“This math problem has been torturing me all afternoon.”

(这道数学题折磨了我整个下午。)

同义词:torment, afflict, agonize

常见短语

torture device — 专门设计用来施加痛苦的器械或装置,历史上常见于审讯或惩罚场景。

“The iron maiden was a notorious medieval torture device.”

(铁处女是中世纪臭名昭著的刑具。)

mental torture — 指通过心理手段造成的持续精神痛苦,如长期威胁、孤立或精神虐待。

“Solitary confinement is considered a form of mental torture.”

(单独监禁被认为是一种精神折磨。)