Plural of torus; doughnut-shaped three-dimensional geometric objects, or in architecture, molded rings at the base of columns.
From Latin 'torus' originally meaning a swelling or bulge, used by Romans for architectural elements. The word evolved in mathematics to describe the specific donut-shaped surface of revolution.
Tori (the donut shape) is everywhere in physics and math—from the shapes of atomic nuclei to how planets form in protoplanetary disks. NASA and space agencies use torus shapes for space station designs because they create balanced artificial gravity!
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