tor

See also: Tor, TOR, tör, tőr, tor-, -tor, and Appendix:Variations of "tor"

English

WOTD – 19 February 2013

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɔɹ/
• IPA^(key): /tɔː(ɹ)/

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

• Homophones: tore, torr (all accents); tour (pour-poor merger); taw (non-rhotic)

Etymology 1

From Middle English tor, torr-, from Old English torr, tor (“a high rock, lofty hill, tower”), possibly from Proto-Celtic, compare Old Welsh *tor (“hill”); ultimately from Latin turris (“high structure”), from Ancient Greek τύρρις (túrrhis), τύρσις (túrsis, “tower”), of non-Indo-European origin. Cognate with Cornish tor, Scottish Gaelic tòrr, Welsh tŵr, Irish tor, French tor, and Romansch tor/tur/tuor; the first four are from Proto-Celtic (from Latin turris), the last two directly from Latin turris (from Ancient Greek τύρρις (túrrhis) and τύρσις (túrsis)). It is not clear whether the Celtic forms were borrowed from Old English or vice versa. See also tower.

Noun

tor (plural tors)

1. A craggy outcrop of rock on the summit of a hill.
2. (South-West England) A hill.
   • 1855, Charles Kingsley, Westward Ho!, Tickor and Fields (1855), pages 104-105:

     Bursdon and Welsford were then, as now, a rolling range of dreary moors, unbroken by tor or tree, or anything save few and far between a world-old furze-bank which marked the common rights of some distant cattle farm, and crossed then, not as now, by a decent road, but by a rough confused trackway, the remnant of an old Roman road from Clovelly dikes to Launceston.

   • 1902, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Chapter 9:

     The moon was low upon the right, and the jagged pinnacle of a granite tor stood up against the lower curve of its silver disc.

   • 2008, Lydia Joyce, Shadows of the Night, Signet Eclipse (2008), →ISBN, page 242:

     She had slipped the letters into her pocket next to the packet of antique documents and had taken an umbrella—as the sky was ominous out over the distant tors—and strolled around the manor house and down the road toward the village.

3. (UK, dialect) A tower; a turret.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ray to this entry?)

Translations

outcrop of rock

• Finnish: rakka (fi), toori
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: risco (es) m

hill — see hill

Etymology 2

Adjective

tor (comparative more tor, superlative most tor)

1. Alternative form of tore ("hard, difficult; strong; rich").

Anagrams

• ORT, OTR, RTO, TRO, ort, rot

---

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [toɾ]

Noun

tor (plural [please provide])

1. beetle

References

• 2007. The UCLA Phonetics Lab Archive. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Department of Linguistics.

---

Azerbaijani

Other scripts

Cyrillic
Abjad		تور

Etymology

From Common Turkic *tor. Cognate with Old Turkic [script needed] (tor, “net”).

Noun

tor (definite accusative tornu, plural torlar)

1. net

Declension

Declension of tor

	singular	plural
nominative	tor	torlar
definite accusative	toru	torları
dative	tora	torlara
locative	torda	torlarda
ablative	tordan	torlardan
definite genitive	torun	torların

Possessive forms of tor

	nominative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	torum	torlarım
sənin (“your”)	torun	torların
onun (“his/her/its”)	toru	torları
bizim (“our”)	torumuz	torlarımız
sizin (“your”)	torunuz	torlarınız
onların (“their”)	toru or torları	torları
	accusative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	torumu	torlarımı
sənin (“your”)	torunu	torlarını
onun (“his/her/its”)	torunu	torlarını
bizim (“our”)	torumuzu	torlarımızı
sizin (“your”)	torunuzu	torlarınızı
onların (“their”)	torunu or torlarını	torlarını
	dative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	toruma	torlarıma
sənin (“your”)	toruna	torlarına
onun (“his/her/its”)	toruna	torlarına
bizim (“our”)	torumuza	torlarımıza
sizin (“your”)	torunuza	torlarınıza
onların (“their”)	toruna or torlarına	torlarına
	locative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	torumda	torlarımda
sənin (“your”)	torunda	torlarında
onun (“his/her/its”)	torunda	torlarında
bizim (“our”)	torumuzda	torlarımızda
sizin (“your”)	torunuzda	torlarınızda
onların (“their”)	torunda or torlarında	torlarında
	ablative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	torumdan	torlarımdan
sənin (“your”)	torundan	torlarından
onun (“his/her/its”)	torundan	torlarından
bizim (“our”)	torumuzdan	torlarımızdan
sizin (“your”)	torunuzdan	torlarınızdan
onların (“their”)	torundan or torlarından	torlarından
	genitive
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	torumun	torlarımın
sənin (“your”)	torunun	torlarının
onun (“his/her/its”)	torunun	torlarının
bizim (“our”)	torumuzun	torlarımızın
sizin (“your”)	torunuzun	torlarınızın
onların (“their”)	torunun or torlarının	torlarının

---

Breton

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtoːr/

Noun

tor m (plural torioù, collective toroù)

1. (anatomy) belly, stomach, abdomen

Mutation

  Mutation of tor  

Breton consonant mutation
	unmutated	soft	aspirate	hard
singular	tor	dor	zor	unchanged
plural	torioù	dorioù	zorioù	unchanged

Synonyms

• kof

Noun

tor

1. Hard mutation of dor.

Mutation

  Mutation of tor  

Breton consonant mutation
	unmutated	soft	aspirate	hard
singular	dor	zor	unchanged	tor
plural	dorioù	zorioù	unchanged	torioù

---

Danish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /toːr/, [tˢoːˀɐ̯]

Verb

tor

1. present of to

---

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch torre. Compare cognate West Frisian tuorre. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɔr/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: tor
• Rhymes: -ɔr

Noun

tor f (plural torren, diminutive torretje n)

1. beetle, insect of the order Coleoptera

Synonyms

• kever

Derived terms

• boktor
• kniptor
• meeltor
• schildpadtor
• watertor

 

Descendants

• Afrikaans: tor

Anagrams

• rot

---

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈtor]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: tor

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

tor (plural torok)

1. (literary, archaic or folksy) meal, repast (ceremonial meal held after weddings, funerals, or other special occasions)

   halotti tor ― funeral feast

   disznótor ― meal on pig-killing day

Declension

Inflection (stem in -o-, back harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	tor	torok
accusative	tort	torokat
dative	tornak	toroknak
instrumental	torral	torokkal
causal-final	torért	torokért
translative	torrá	torokká
terminative	torig	torokig
essive-formal	torként	torokként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	torban	torokban
superessive	toron	torokon
adessive	tornál	toroknál
illative	torba	torokba
sublative	torra	torokra
allative	torhoz	torokhoz
elative	torból	torokból
delative	torról	torokról
ablative	tortól	toroktól
non-attributive possessive - singular	toré	toroké
non-attributive possessive - plural	toréi	torokéi

Possessive forms of tor
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	torom	toraim
2nd person sing.	torod	toraid
3rd person sing.	tora	torai
1st person plural	torunk	toraink
2nd person plural	torotok	toraitok
3rd person plural	toruk	toraik

Derived terms

• disznótor

Etymology 2

From Latin thorax, from Ancient Greek θώραξ (thṓrax, “breastplate, chest”), created during the Hungarian language reform, which took place in the 18th–19th centuries.

Noun

tor (plural torok)

1. (zoology) thorax (of an arthropod)

   Coordinate terms: fej, potroh

Declension

Inflection (stem in -o-, back harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	tor	torok
accusative	tort	torokat
dative	tornak	toroknak
instrumental	torral	torokkal
causal-final	torért	torokért
translative	torrá	torokká
terminative	torig	torokig
essive-formal	torként	torokként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	torban	torokban
superessive	toron	torokon
adessive	tornál	toroknál
illative	torba	torokba
sublative	torra	torokra
allative	torhoz	torokhoz
elative	torból	torokból
delative	torról	torokról
ablative	tortól	toroktól
non-attributive possessive - singular	toré	toroké
non-attributive possessive - plural	toréi	torokéi

Possessive forms of tor
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	torom	toraim
2nd person sing.	torod	toraid
3rd person sing.	tora	torai
1st person plural	torunk	toraink
2nd person plural	torotok	toraitok
3rd person plural	toruk	toraik

Further reading

• (ceremonial meal): tor in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh: A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (’An Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
• (thorax): tor in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh: A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (’An Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN

---

Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [t̪ˠɔɾˠ]

Etymology 1

From Old Irish tor.

Noun

tor m (genitive singular toir, nominative plural toir)

1. bush, shrub; clump, tuft

   Synonym: tom

2. head (of cabbage)

   Synonym: ceann

Declension

Declension of tor

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative tor toir Vocative a thoir a thora Genitive toir tor Dative tor toir

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an tor na toir Genitive an toir na dtor Dative leis an tor don tor leis na toir

Derived terms

• ó thor go tom (“from pillar to post”)
• tor caprais (“caper”)
• tor nimhe (“poison oak”)

 

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

tor m (genitive singular toir, nominative plural toir)

1. (geography) tall rock; steep rocky height
2. (literary) tower; towering warrior, pillar (of battle)

Declension

Declension of tor

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative tor toir Vocative a thoir a thora Genitive toir tor Dative tor toir

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an tor na toir Genitive an toir na dtor Dative leis an tor don tor leis na toir

Etymology 3

Noun

tor m

1. Alternative form of toradh

Etymology 4

Noun

tor m (genitive singular toir, nominative plural toir)

1. Alternative form of tarathar

Declension

Declension of tor

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative tor toir Vocative a thoir a thora Genitive toir tor Dative tor toir

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an tor na toir Genitive an toir na dtor Dative leis an tor don tor leis na toir

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
tor	thor	dtor
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “tor”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• “tor”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024

---

Old French

Etymology 1

From Latin turris, turrem, from Ancient Greek τύρρις (túrrhis), τύρσις (túrsis).

Alternative forms

• tur, tour, toer

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tur/
• Rhymes: -ur

Noun

tor oblique singular, f (oblique plural tors, nominative singular tor, nominative plural tors)

1. tower

Descendants

• Middle French: tour
  • French: tour
    • → Breton: tour
• Walloon: tour
• → Middle Low German: tōrn, tōren
  • German Low German: Toorn, Toren
  • → Estonian: torn
  • → Latvian: tornis
  • → Old Norse: turn
    • Danish: tårn
    • Faroese: torn
    • Icelandic: turn
    • Norwegian: tårn
      • → Northern Sami: toardna
    • Swedish: torn
• → Old Dutch: turn
  • Middle Dutch: torre
    • Dutch: toren
      • Afrikaans: toring
      • Negerhollands: tooren, torm, toorn
      • → Aukan: tolen
      • → Saramaccan: tolu
    • Limburgish: toeare
    • West Flemish: torre
• → Old English: torr, tūr, tor
  • Middle English: tour, thour, tor, tore, toure, towere, towour, tur
    • English: tower (see there for further descendants)
    • Scots: tour, towr
    • Yola: toweare
• → Old Frisian: torn
  • West Frisian: toer
• → Old High German: torn
  • Middle High German: turn, turm
    • Alemannic German: Durm
    • Bavarian: Tuam
    • Luxembourgish: Tur
    • German: Turm, Thurm (obsolete)
      • → Hungarian: torony
      • → Lower Sorbian: torm
      • → Luxembourgish: Tuerm
      • → Romanian: turn
    • Yiddish: טורעם (turem)
    • → Polish: turma
• Irish: túr
• Scottish Gaelic: tùr

Etymology 2

From Latin taurus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɔr/
• Rhymes: -ɔr

Noun

tor oblique singular, m (oblique plural tors, nominative singular tors, nominative plural tor)

1. bull (bovine)

Derived terms

• torel (whence French taureau)

---

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɔr/

• audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Slavic *torъ, from *terti.

Noun

tor m inan

1. track, course, path
2. rail track
3. lane (a part of a sports track)
4. trajectory

Declension

Declension of tor

	singular	plural
nominative	tor	tory
genitive	toru	torów
dative	torowi	torom
accusative	tor	tory
instrumental	torem	torami
locative	torze	torach
vocative	torze	tory

Derived terms

• (verb) torować
• (nouns) torowiec, torowisko
• (adjective) torowy

Etymology 2

From Latin thorium, from Old Scandinavian Thorr.

Noun

Chemical element
Th
Previous: aktyn (Ac)
Next: protaktyn (Pa)

tor m inan

1. thorium

Declension

Declension of tor

	singular
nominative	tor
genitive	toru
dative	torowi
accusative	tor
instrumental	torem
locative	torze
vocative	torze

Etymology 3

Evangelista Torricelli, an Italian physicist

Noun

tor m (symbol Tr)

1. torr

Declension

Declension of tor

	singular	plural
nominative	tor	tory
genitive	tora	torów
dative	torowi	torom
accusative	tora	tory
instrumental	torem	torami
locative	torze	torach
vocative	torze	tory

Etymology 4

Noun

tor

1. genitive plural of tora

Further reading

• Template:R:PWN

---

Romansch

Alternative forms

• (Rumantsch Grischun, Sutsilvan) tur
• (Sursilvan, Puter, Vallader) tuor

Etymology

From Latin turris, turrem, from Ancient Greek τύρρις (túrrhis), τύρσις (túrsis).

Noun

tor m (plural tors)

1. (Surmiran) tower

---

Scanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [téʊːɐ]

Noun

tor

1. March (month)

---

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *torъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tôːr/

Noun

tȏr m (Cyrillic spelling то̑р)

1. corral, cote

Declension

Declension of tor

	singular	plural
nominative	tȏr	tòrovi
genitive	tora	torova
dative	toru	torovima
accusative	tor	torove
vocative	toru	torovi
locative	toru	torovima
instrumental	torom	torovima

---

Turkish

Alternative forms

• toru
• toy

Etymology

From West Old Turkic tor ("young, young animal, callow, immature, timid"), from Proto-Turkic *tōr- (“a kind of young animal”). Related to toy.

Noun

tor (definite accusative toru, plural torlar)

1. young
2. novice
3. whelp
4. beginner
5. recruit

Declension

Inflection
Nominative	tor
Definite accusative	toru
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	tor	torlar
Definite accusative	toru	torları
Dative	tora	torlara
Locative	torda	torlarda
Ablative	tordan	torlardan
Genitive	torun	torların

References

• „tor“ in the dictionary of the Turkish language (TDK)
• Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–) “toraman”, in Nişanyan Sözlük
• Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–) “torun”, in Nişanyan Sözlük
• Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–) “torlak”, in Nişanyan Sözlük

---

Uzbek

Other scripts
Cyrillic	тор (tor)‍
Latin	tor‍
Perso-Arabic

Etymology

From Proto-Turkic *d(i)ār.

Adjective

tor (comparative torroq, superlative eng tor)

1. narrow, tight

Noun

tor (plural torlar)

1. string

---

Venetian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

tor

1. (transitive) to take
2. (transitive) to get

---

Volapük

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [toɾ]

Noun

tor (nominative plural tors)

1. bull

Declension

declension of tor

	singular	plural
nominative	tor	tors
genitive	tora	toras
dative	tore	tores
accusative	tori	toris
vocative 1	o tor!	o tors!
predicative 2	toru	torus

• ¹ status as a case is disputed
• ² in later, non-classical Volapük only

Synonyms

• hibub

Antonyms

• kun
• jibub

Derived terms

• torül (“bull calf, male calf”)

---

Welsh

Alternative forms

• torra (second-person singular imperative)
• torriff (colloquial, third-person singular present/future)
• torrith (colloquial, third-person singular present/future)
• tyr (literary, third-person singular present/future)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɔr/

Verb

tor

1. (literary) third-person singular present/future of torri
2. (literary) second-person singular imperative of torri

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
tor	dor	nhor	thor
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.