torus

noun

to·​rus ˈtȯr-əs How to pronounce torus (audio)
plural tori ˈtȯr-ˌī How to pronounce torus (audio) -ˌē How to pronounce torus (audio)
1
: a large molding of convex profile commonly occurring as the lowest molding in the base of a column
2
: the thickening of a membrane closing a wood-cell pit (as of gymnosperm tracheids) having the secondary cell wall arched over the pit cavity
3
: a doughnut-shaped surface generated by a circle rotated about an axis in its plane that does not intersect the circle
broadly : toroid
4
: a smooth rounded anatomical protuberance (such as a bony ridge on the skull)

Examples of torus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Each chip is connected to six other chips, and the whole system is connected in the shape of a torus to ensure all connecting wires are equally short. IEEE Spectrum, 8 May 2024 Webb’s instruments were able to tell that most of the droplets of water from the vapor Enceladus regularly spews out don’t stay within the torus near the moon. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 13 June 2023 Billiard trajectories on the table correspond to trajectories on the torus, and vice versa. Quanta Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 In 2020, Denne and two of her undergraduate students — John Carr Haden and Troy Larsen — were studying knots that can be drawn on the surface of a torus, or doughnut. Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for torus 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'torus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, protuberance, bulge, torus molding

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of torus was in 1563

Dictionary Entries Near torus

Cite this Entry

“Torus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torus. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

torus

noun
plural tori ˈtō(ə)r-ˌī How to pronounce torus (audio) ˈtȯ(ə)r- How to pronounce torus (audio)
-ˌē
1
: a doughnut-shaped surface generated by a circle rotated about an axis in its plane that does not intersect the circle
2
: a smooth rounded anatomical protuberance (as a bony ridge on the skull)
a supraorbital torus
Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!