torrid

adjective tor·rid \ ˈtȯr-əd , ˈtär- \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Examples: torrid in a Sentence

Editor's Note: What Do torrid and Toast Have in Common?

Definition of torrid

1 a : parched with heat especially of the sun : hot

torrid sands

b : giving off intense heat : scorching

2 : ardent, passionate

torrid love letters

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torridity

play \tȯ-ˈri-də-tē\ noun

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torridly

play \ˈtȯr-əd-lē, ˈtär-\ adverb

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torridness

noun

See torrid defined for English-language learners

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Examples of torrid in a Sentence

The team had a torrid time trying to score.
the dry, torrid summers in southern Arizona

Recent Examples of torrid from the Web

The amount of this that exists is growing at a torrid pace.

— recode staff, Recode, "Full video and transcript: Kleiner Perkins’ Mary Meeker at Code 2018," 31 May 2018
Eventually, their torrid affair is outed to the public during season 5.

— karen mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "The 10 Most Scandalous Moments of Scandal: Relive These Storylines Before Tonight's Finale Ends," 19 Apr. 2018
Update: Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, who has been producing at a torrid pace (18 points in his last 10 games) was a late scratch Friday.

— mike coppinger, latimes.com, "Ducks face Oilers at Edmonton on Sunday night," 25 Mar. 2018
There’s a torrid affair, a death, and intensifying levels of desire and betrayal.

— adam woog, The Seattle Times, "New in crime fiction: a wicked noir, a World War II-era thriller," 23 Feb. 2018
The faraway nation is the only developed economy that’s been expanding at such a torrid pace, thanks to the one factor that Trump railed against on the campaign trail: immigration.

— Bloomberg.com, "This Nation Has the Secret to Trump’s GDP Goal," 17 May 2017
Other than assuring Davis, who came to the majors after a torrid stint with Fresno, will play in the next few games, Hinch did not commit to any set outfield alignments.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros' A.J. Hinch says matchups will sort out outfield carousel," 24 May 2018
And each team has a chance to continue its torrid run as postseason play approaches.

— jordan mcpherson, miamiherald, "After dominating SEC, Florida Gators baseball and softball have bigger goals in mind | Miami Herald," 14 May 2018
As one of many young players on first-year coach Dann Giesey's team, Chialdikas is hitting at a torrid pace from the No.

— bob narang, chicagotribune.com, "Elizabeth Chialdikas is no one-hit wonder for Lake Zurich softball," 3 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'torrid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What Do torrid and Toast Have in Common?

Torrid derives from the Latin verb torrēre, which means "to burn" or "to parch" and is an ancestor of our word toast. Despite the dry implications of this root, it is also an ancestor of "torrent," which can refer to a violent stream of liquid (as in "a torrent of rain"). "Torrid" first appeared in English in the 16th century, and was originally used to describe something burned or scorched by exposure to the sun. The term "torrid zone" later came about to refer to tropical regions of the Earth. By the end of that century the word had taken on the extended meaning that we know today - suggesting fiery passion.

Origin and Etymology of torrid

Latin torridus, from torrēre

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1545

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

torrid Synonyms

TORRID Defined for English Language Learners

torrid

adjective

Definition of torrid for English Language Learners

: very hot and usually dry
: showing or expressing very strong feelings especially of sexual or romantic desire
: very difficult, uncomfortable, or unpleasant