1.torture的基本意思是严重折磨某人的身体和精神,使其产生极度痛苦、苦恼和紧张等不良感觉。
2.torture是及物动词,接名词、代词作宾语。其宾语后也可接动词不定式作目的状语。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
They tortured the prisoner until he made a confession.他们对犯人施以酷刑,直到他招供。
Why do we have to keep on torturing ourselves by taking about it?为什么我们要一直谈论那件事让自己痛苦呢?
That cruel boy tortures animals.那个残忍的男孩虐待动物。
Winds tortured the trees.风把树吹得东倒西歪。
They tortured the man to make him confess his crime.他们拷打那人,使他招认他的罪行。
The illness tortured the man to death.疾病把这人折磨致死。
◇ 用于be ～ed 结构
He was caught by the British and tortured.他落入英国人之手后受到严刑拷打。
Many people are tortured by cancer.许多人在受癌症的折磨。
She was tortured by jealousy.她为妒忌所苦。

［同义词］ n.  misery, torment
［词源］＜后期拉丁语tortura(扭弯,扭歪)

The torture made him confess.严刑拷打使他招供了。
She suffered tortures from a toothache.她受着牙痛的折磨。