tŏrus | tŏrum, i (noun M.n) : m. (also , , n., Varr. ap. Non. 11, 14; Lact. 6, 23, 15) [for storus; root ster-, stra-, of sterno, stramen; Gr. στορέννυμι, to spread, scatter], prop.
* A round, swelling, or bulging place, an elevation, protuberance, prominence; hence
* A knot, bulge: (funis) Cato, R. R. 135, 4: funiculorum,Col. 11, 3, 6; cf.: vitis toris ad arborem religetur,id. 5, 6, 25: firmi vitis,id. Arb. 16, 4.
* The muscular or fleshy part, the muscle, brawn of animal bodies (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): o lacertorum tori! Cic. poët. Tusc. 2, 9, 22; Ov. M. 2, 854; 9, 82; 12, 402; 14, 283; 15, 230; id. H. 9, 60: leo gaudet comantes Excutiens cervice toros,Verg. A. 12, 7: luxuriatque toris animosum pectus,id. G. 3, 81; Plin. 18, 7, 18, § 78; Sen. Hippol. 1042; Val. Fl. 4, 245; Tac. Or. 21: venarum tori,varicose dilatations of the veins,Cels. 7, 18 fin.
* Transf., the bulge, thickness of trees: utile toros futuri draconis pasci,Plin. 17, 23, 35, § 211; cf.: (asparagus) in toros striatur,id. 19, 8, 42, § 146; App. Flor. p. 363, 31.
* A raised ornament, a knot, on a garland; trop., of language: isque (stilus mediocris) uno tenore fluit, aut addit aliquos, ut in coronā, toros omnemque orationem ornamentis modicis verborum sententiarumque distinguit,Cic. Or. 6, 21.
* A bolster, cushion, so named from its protuberances; hence, a couch, sofa, bed (mostly poet.; syn.: stratum, lectus): antiquis torus e stramento erat, qualiter etiam nunc in castris,Plin. 8, 48, 73, § 193: viridante toro consederat herbae,Verg. A. 5, 388; cf.: praebuit herba torum,Ov. H. 5, 14; id. M. 8, 655: datque torum caespes,id. ib. 10, 556: gramine vestitis accubuere toris,id. F. 1, 402: silvestrem montana torum cum sterneret uxor Frondibus,Juv. 6, 5: discumbere toris,Ov. M. 8, 565.—So of a sofa: toro sic orsus ab alto,Verg. A. 2, 2; Ov. M. 12, 579.—Of a bed: ambierantque torum,Ov. M. 7, 332: concutiuntque torum de molli fluminis ulvā Impositum lecto,id. ib. 8, 655: ebeno sublimis in atrā,id. ib. 11, 610; Suet. Aug. 73. — Of a corpse-bed, Ov. M. 9, 503; id. F. 6, 668: membra toro defleta reponunt,Verg. A. 6, 220.—Of a bridalbed, Ov. M. 6, 431: (lectica) sive illa toro resupina feretur,Ov. A. A. 1, 487; cf. Becker, Gallus, 2, p. 240 (2d ed.).
* Transf., like thalamus, as a designation for marriage: Deucalion ... Cum consorte tori,with his consort, spouse,Ov. M. 1, 319; cf.: socia tori,id. ib. 1, 620; so id. ib. 7, 91; 7, 332; id. F. 3, 511; id. P. 3, 3, 50; id. H. 2, 41: genialis,Tac. A. 15, 37; Val. Max. 2, 6, 14: obscenus,i. e. illicit connection,Ov. Tr. 2, 378; cf. illiciti (with stupra),Sen. Hippol. 97: receptus in torum,Plin. 34, 2, 6, § 12.—Hence, also, for a mistress: torum donare alicui,Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 87.
* An elevation, bank of earth: riparum,Verg. A. 6, 674; Stat. Th. 4, 819: pulvinorum,Plin. 19, 4, 20, § 60; 22, 22, 34, § 76.
* In architecture, a large, round moulding at the base of a column, a torus, Vitr. 3, 3, 8.