torus

Meaning

1. (declension-2, masculine) round, swelling, bulging place; elevation, protuberance
2. (declension-2, masculine) bulge, knot
3. (declension-2, masculine, poetic, usually) muscular or fleshly part, muscle, brawn of an animal bodies
4. (declension-2, masculine, poetic, usually) muscular or fleshly part, muscle, brawn of an animal bodies
5. (declension-2, masculine) raised ornament, knot on a garland
6. (declension-2, masculine, poetic, usually) bolster, cushion; bed, couch, sofa
7. (declension-2, figuratively, masculine, poetic, usually) bolster, cushion; bed, couch, sofa
8. (declension-2, masculine) embankment, elevation of earth
9. (declension-2, masculine) large round molding at the base of a column

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈtɔ.rʊs]

Etymology

Of uncertain origin.
De Vaan proposes a tentative derivation from a Proto-Indo-European *torh₂-os, from *terh₂- (“to cross, go through”). This is formally and semantically solid, though there is little linguistic evidence to support it.
An older theory by Leumann derived the word from sternō (“to spread”), itself from Proto-Indo-European *sterh₃- (“to spread, extend”), but the connection between the two Latin words is semantically dubious (one would expect torus to be derived from a verb meaning "to turn" or "to knot" rather than "to spread").