# torrent

/ˈtɔɹənt/ (US) · /tˈɒɹənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/torrent
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. rushing water

noun · CEFR B2

a large amount of water moving very quickly and with great force.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a large amount of something

noun · CEFR B2

a very large amount of something that comes at you suddenly, like words, feelings, or information.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. internet file

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a file shared on the internet using a system where many people send parts of the file to each other.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to download via peer-to-peer

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

to download a file using a peer-to-peer network.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The rain turned the small stream into a rushing torrent.
- After the controversial announcement, the company received a torrent of angry emails from customers.
- The dam's failure released a massive torrent of water that reshaped the valley floor within hours, leaving behind a landscape of silt and debris.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.