Word
torrent
Phoneticstor·rent, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɔɹənt/
UK/tˈɒɹənt/
Definitions
01rushing water
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a large amount of water moving very quickly and with great force.
n. a violent or rapid stream of water or other liquid, often resulting from heavy rain or melting snow.
“After the heavy storm, the small stream turned into a dangerous torrent.”
“The mountain path was completely washed away when the melting snow transformed the creek into a roaring torrent of mud and debris.”
02a large amount of something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a very large amount of something that comes at you suddenly, like words, feelings, or information.
n. a sudden, violent, or overwhelming outpouring of something non-physical, such as speech, emotions, or data.
“The company received a torrent of complaints after the website crashed.”
“The politician's controversial remarks triggered a torrent of abuse on social media, forcing his office to issue a formal apology within hours.”
Synonyms
03internet file
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a file shared on the internet using a system where many people send parts of the file to each other.
n. a metadata file used in peer-to-peer file sharing that contains information about the files to be distributed.
“He downloaded a torrent of the open-source software to save time.”
“The legal team argued that simply hosting a torrent file did not constitute a direct copyright violation under current digital statutes.”
04to download via peer-to-peer
C1 · Advanced Computing Informal · Technical
v. to download a file using a peer-to-peer network.
v. to transfer data using a peer-to-peer protocol, typically BitTorrent.
“Many people torrent large video files because it is faster than a direct download.”
“The university network administrators implemented a policy to throttle bandwidth for students who were caught torrenting large datasets during peak hours.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The deadly Himalayan torrent damaged roads and dozens of bridges.” “The torrent of snow sent one of the bodies down to the bottom.” Etymology
Borrowed from French torrent, from Italian torrente, from Latin torrentem, accusative of torrēns (“burning, seething, roaring”), from Latin torrēre (“to parch, scorch”).
From BitTorrent and the file extension it uses for metadata (.torrent); ultimately from etymology 1, carrying the notion of the flow of information.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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