* Literal: The desert sun beat down, making the air torrid and impossible to breathe.
* Figurative: Their torrid love affair was the talk of the town.
* Sports: The team endured a torrid losing streak, but they eventually turned things around.
* Figurative: The economy is experiencing a torrid period of growth, fueled by low interest rates.
As you can see, "torrid" can refer to intense heat, passionate emotions, or even difficult times.