Tortilla, tor-tē′lya, n. a round flat cake made from maize in Mexico. [Sp., dim. of torta, a tart.]
Tortoise, tor′tis, or -tois, n. together with turtles, a well-defined order of reptiles, distinguished especially by the dorsal (carapace) and ventral (plastron) shields which protect the body.—n. Tor′toise-shell, the horny epidermic plate of a species of turtle.—adj. of the colour of the foregoing, mottled in yellow and black. [O. Fr. tortis—L. tortus, twisted.]
Tortrix, tor′triks, n. the typical genus of Tortricidæ, a family of small lepidopterous insects.
Tortulous, tor′tū-lus, adj. having swellings at regular intervals.
Tortuous, tor′tū-us, adj. twisted, winding: (fig.) deceitful.—adj. Tor′tuōse, twisted: wreathed: winding.—n. Tortuos′ity, state of being tortuous.—adv. Tor′tuously.—n. Tor′tuousness. [Fr.,—L. tortuosus—torquēre, tortum, to twist.]
Torture, tor′tūr, n. a putting to the rack or severe pain to extort a confession, or as a punishment: extreme pain: anguish of body or mind.—v.t. to put to torture or to the rack: to put to extreme pain: to annoy: to vex.—n. Tor′turer.—adv. Tor′turingly, in a torturing manner: so as to torment or punish.—adj. Tor′turous, causing torture. [Late L. tortura, torment—torquēre.]
Toruffled, too-ruf′ld, adj. (Milt.) ruffled.
Torula, tor′ū-la, n. a small torus: the yeast-plant.—adjs. Tor′uliform; Tor′uloid; Tor′ulose; Tor′ulous.—n. Tor′ulus, the socket of the antenna. [L. torulus, dim. of torus, swelling.]
Torus, tō′rus, n. (archit.) a moulding in the base of columns, the profile of which is semicircular: (bot.) the receptacle or part of the flower on which the carpels stand: (anat.) a rounded ridge, esp. one on the occipital bone of the skull:—pl. Tō′ri. [L., a round, swelling place, an elevation.]
Tory, tō′ri, n. a Conservative in English politics—a term since 1830 largely superseded by Conservative, but since 1880 a good deal revived in the sense frequently of a non-conservative Conservative.—v.t. Tō′rify, to infect with Tory principles.—n. Tō′ryism, the principles of the Tories. [Ir. toiridhe, a pursuer; first applied to the Irish bog-trotters and robbers; next, about 1680, to the most hot-headed asserters of the royal prerogative.]