Tor″ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Tortured (�; 135); p. pr. & vb. n.Torturing.] [Cf. F. Torturer.] 1. To put to torture; to pain extremely; to harass; to vex.
2. To punish with torture; to put to the rack; as, to torture an accused person. Shak.
3. To wrest from the proper meaning; to distort. Jar. Taylor.
4. To keep on the stretch, as a bow.
The bow tortureth the string. Bacon.