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torrent
/ˈtɔːr.ənt/
fast, strong stream of liquid
After the heavy rain, a torrent of water rushed down the hillside.
A large, powerful flow of water caused by heavy rainfall.
literary
A strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid.
The river became a raging torrent after the dam burst.
The river transformed into a violent, fast-moving flood.
A torrent of emotions overwhelmed her after the news.
She felt a sudden, intense surge of emotions.
Often used metaphorically to describe overwhelming emotions or events.
informal
A sudden, overwhelming outpouring of something, especially words or data.
He received a torrent of messages after his viral post.
He got a sudden flood of replies and comments online.
Commonly used in digital contexts (e.g., torrent of emails, social media comments).
technical
A file-sharing system for distributing large amounts of data over the internet.
Many users download movies via torrent networks.
People often use peer-to-peer file-sharing systems to get movies.
Short for 'BitTorrent,' a protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing.
Collocations
a torrent ofa sudden, overwhelming flow of somethingdown the torrentmoving rapidly along a strong current
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'torrent' (file-sharing)
In everyday speech, 'torrent' usually refers to a strong flow of water or emotions. Only in tech contexts does it mean file-sharing.
Gold Rule
Use 'torrent' for sudden, overwhelming flows
Whether water, emotions, or data, 'torrent' implies intensity and suddenness.
Word Origin
From Old French 'torent' (12th century), from Latin 'torrentem' (accusative of 'torrens'), present participle of 'torrere' meaning 'to parch or dry up,' but extended to mean 'to rush violently.' First used in English in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Can be used literally (water) or figuratively (emotions, data). In digital contexts, often associated with illegal file-sharing, though legitimate uses exist.
Word Breakdown
torrent
from Latin 'torrere' (to dry up), extended to mean violent flow
rootEnglish Dictionary