Tor
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | The Onion Router |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Technology & Computing, Medical, Writing & Everyday |
| Also written | TOR, ToR |
Tor has three meanings. The most common are The Onion Router (cybersecurity) and Termination of resuscitation (emergency medicine); it can also stand for Terms of reference.
Meanings of Tor at a glance
| # | Tor stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Onion Router | Technology & Computing › Cybersecurity |
| 2 | Termination of resuscitation | Medical › Emergency Medicine |
| 3 | Terms of reference | Writing & Everyday › Email and Office |
1. The Onion Router
Technology & Computing · Cybersecurity Abbreviations
Free software and a volunteer-run network that anonymizes internet traffic by routing it through three randomly chosen relays with layered encryption, so no single relay knows both the user and the destination. It also hosts .onion sites reachable only through Tor.
Example: The newspaper accepts anonymous tips through a SecureDrop site on Tor.
Onion routing was developed at the US Naval Research Laboratory in the mid-1990s, and the Tor Project became a nonprofit in 2006. Journalists, activists and people in censored countries rely on it, as do criminal marketplaces. Browsing is slower than normal, and exit relays can see unencrypted traffic, so HTTPS still matters. The project writes the name "Tor", not "TOR".
2. Termination of resuscitation (TOR)
Medical · Emergency Medicine Abbreviations
Decision to stop resuscitation efforts in cardiac arrest when further attempts are judged futile, made by a physician or under EMS protocols. Rules help identify patients with almost no chance of survival.
Example: TOR criteria met after 20 min: unwitnessed, no shock delivered, no ROSC; pronounced on scene.
The BLS TOR rule recommends stopping when the arrest was not witnessed by EMS, no shock was given and there was no ROSC before transport. Terminating in the field avoids risky lights-and-sirens transport with little benefit. Family support is part of the process.
3. Terms of reference (ToR)
Writing & Everyday · Email and Office Abbreviations · also used in business
Sets out the purpose, scope, membership and responsibilities of a committee, project, inquiry or review. The term is common in UK, Commonwealth, United Nations and international development documents.
Example: The working group's ToR will be circulated for approval at the next board meeting.
Written ToR or TOR. In public inquiries, the terms of reference define what may be investigated, so they are often contested before work begins. Development agencies such as the World Bank issue a ToR when hiring consultants, describing deliverables and timelines. In technology, Tor is the anonymity network originally called The Onion Router.
Related abbreviations
More cybersecurity abbreviations
- SSL – Secure Sockets Layer
- SSO – Single sign-on
- SSRF – Server-side request forgery
- TLS – Transport Layer Security
- TOTP – Time-based one-time password
- TPM – Trusted Platform Module
- TTP – Tactics, techniques and procedures
- UTM – Unified threat management
See all 119 cybersecurity abbreviations →
More emergency medicine abbreviations
- ABCDE – Airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure
- ABCs – Airway, breathing, circulation
- ACEP – American College of Emergency Physicians
- ACLS – Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- AD – Advance directive
- ALS – Advanced life support
- AMA – Against medical advice
- AMLS – Advanced Medical Life Support
See all 97 emergency medicine abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.