Torpid
/ˈtɔːrpɪd/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Torpid describes a condition of being slow, inactive, or without energy. It can refer to people, animals, or things that seem sleepy, lazy, or unable to move quickly. This word is often used when something is not completely asleep but is very quiet and slow.
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See It in Action
Slow and inactive because of tiredness or cold
- •After the long walk, he felt torpid and could barely move.
- •The torpid frog stayed still in the cold water.
- •The town was torpid on a hot summer afternoon, with few people outside.
Showing little energy or interest
- •The students were torpid during the boring lecture.
- •Her torpid response showed she was not interested in the topic.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'torpid' like 'slow' or 'lazy,' but much stronger—it means almost no movement or energy at all.
- ✓Picture a bear in winter, resting and moving very little because it is cold and quiet.
- ✓It's the feeling when you are very tired and just want to sit still without doing anything.
- ✓Sounds like 'TOR-pid' → imagine a turtle (slow animal) wrapped in a warm shell, moving barely at all.
- ✓In stories, animals often become torpid during winter to save energy, like hibernation.
- ✓NOT like 'active' (full of energy); torpid means almost no activity.
- ✓NOT like 'sleep' (complete rest); torpid is more like slow or quiet movement, not full sleep.
- ✓NOT like 'lazy' (choosing not to work); torpid can happen naturally, like from cold or tiredness.
Try Other Words
- •Inactive: not moving or working (Use when emphasizing no movement or action)
- •Lethargic: feeling very tired and without energy (Use when describing tiredness or lack of energy)
- •Sluggish: moving slowly or with little energy (Use when movement is slow but not completely stopped)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'torp-' (from Latin 'torpere' meaning to be numb or stiff) + '-id' (adjective ending)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'torpidus,' meaning numb, stiff, or sluggish
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe physical or mental inactivity
- •Modern usage: Mainly used in formal or literary contexts to describe very slow or inactive states
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you felt torpid? What caused that feeling?
•How does being torpid affect how people or animals survive in cold or difficult conditions?
Fill in the blanks
1.After sitting still for hours, she felt torpid and ___ to move quickly.
2.The torpid animal moved very ___ because of the cold weather.
3.Unlike being energetic, torpid means having ___ energy or interest.
4.When people feel torpid, they often ___ to react to things around them.
5.The hot sun made the town torpid, with people ___ in their homes.
6.Torpid is different from lazy because it can happen ___, without choice.
7.During winter, some animals become torpid to ___ energy and survive cold temperatures.