torrid

Everyday

1. Very hot and dry: a torrid summer, torrid desert. tree →
2. Full of strong, difficult feelings or troubles: a torrid time means a very hard time. tree →

In the lessons

A weather and geography word: the old name «torrid zone» meant the hot lands between the tropics. In news and sport: «The team had a torrid afternoon» means they had a terrible time. Writers also use it for passionate love stories, a grown-up sense.

Examples

• The explorers crossed the torrid desert. tree →
• It was a torrid summer with no rain. tree →
• Old maps call the hot lands near the equator the torrid zone. tree →
• The goalkeeper had a torrid afternoon. tree →
• The camels plodded on in the torrid heat. tree →
• We had a torrid time moving house. tree →

Note

Adjective, a little formal. In sport and news (UK) «a torrid time» = a very bad time. Do not confuse with «horrid» or «torrent» (a rushing stream).

In Jewish tradition

A weather and geography word: the old name «torrid zone» meant the hot lands between the tropics. In news and sport: «The team had a torrid afternoon» means they had a terrible time. Writers also use it for passionate love stories, a grown-up sense.

Examples

• By Indians he might have meant Ethio- pians, or any other nation under the torrid zone which the ancients used tu denominate as Indians (T. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Adjective, a little formal. In sport and news (UK) «a torrid time» = a very bad time. Do not confuse with «horrid» or «torrent» (a rushing stream).