torch — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A stick of wood or plant fibres twisted together, with one end soaked in a flammable substance such as resin or tallow and set on fire, which is held in the hand, put into a wall bracket, or stuck into the ground, and used chiefly as a light source.

   Synonyms

   brandfirebrandflambeau

   Examples

   The mob of angry villagers carried torches and pitchforks to the vampire’s castle.

   Enter at one doore Æneas, at another Paris, Deiphobus, Antemor [i.e., Antenor], Diomed [i.e., Diomedes] vvith torches.

   More examples (5)

   [A]mongſt the ancients there vvas Amor Lethes [Love Dies], hee tooke burning torches, and extinguiſhed them in the riuer, his ſtatua vvas to be ſeene in the Temple of Venus Eiuſina, of vvhich Ovid makes mention, and ſaith that all louers of olde vvent thither a pilgrimate, that vvould be rid of their loue pangs.

   [F]or this vile woman was I about to commit to danger the lives of so many noble friends—shake the foundation of a lawful throne—carry the sword and torch through the bosom of a peaceful land— […]

   In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see; who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.

   He remembered […] how he heard Mrs Coldfield's feet and saw the light of the torch approaching along the upper hall and how she came and passed him, […]

   The large lagoon-style pool has a sandy beach and swim-up bar. Coconut palms with white-painted trunks surround the lagoon, which is lit by flaming torches at night.

2. A stick of wood or plant fibres twisted together, with one end soaked in a flammable substance such as resin or tallow and set on fire, which is held in the hand, put into a wall bracket, or stuck into the ground, and used chiefly as a light source. A similarly shaped implement with a replaceable supply of flammable material; specifically, a pole with a lamp at one end.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   Eleven days before the start of the [modern Olympic] Games, a flaming torch is ignited by the sun in Olympia at the ruins of the ancient Temple of Zeus. With that flame, relay runners lighted torches one from the other and carry it to the opening of the Games. Ever since 1936, the Summer Olympics has had its fire-font lit by a relay torch ignited at Olympia.

   The degradation of the [Olympic] torch worldwide—it had to be snuffed out more than once to protect it from protesters—even provoked angry Chinese students to mobilise "150 strong and energetic runners" to defend it in Australia, raising the spectre of violence.

   The Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch, characterised by its sparkling champaign^([sic – meaning champagne]) colour and unique design, represents the spirit of the Games. […] With its gentle curves, the torch represents a sense of peace and solidarity. It stands as a symbol of the Paralympic Games' mission to promote harmony and unity.

3. A flower which is red or red-orange in colour like a flame.

   Usage

   • broadly

4. A spike (“kind of inflorescence”) made up of spikelets.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Of this kinde, there is founde an other, the Spikes, eares, or torches wherof, are very dubble, ſo as in euery Spyky eare, in ſteede of the little knappes or heades, it bringeth forth a number of other ſmal torches, wherof eche one is lyke to the ſpike or torch of great Plantayne.

5. The common mullein, great mullein, or torchwort (Verbascum thapsus).

   Usage

   • broadly
   • in-plural

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [page 118] The white male Mulleyn (or rather Wolleyn) hath […] the whole top with his pleaſant yellow floures ſheweth like to a waxe Candell or taper cunningly wrought. […] [pages 119–120] Mulleyn is called […] in English alſo Tapſus barbatus, Mulleyne, or rather Wulleyn, Hig[h]taper, Torches, and Longworte: […]

6. A cactus with a very elongated body; a ceroid cactus; a torch cactus or torch-thistle.

   Usage

   • broadly
   • Obsolete

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Cereus Peruuianus ſpinoſus L'Obelij. The torch, or thornie Euphorbium. […] [T]his plant, vvhich is called of the Indians in their mother toong Vragua, vvhich is as much to ſay, a torch, taper, or vvaxe candle, vvhereupon it hath been called in Latine of thoſe that vnderſtoode the Indian toong, Cereus, or a torch […] riſeth vp to the height of a ſpeare of 20. foote long, […]

7. A source of enlightenment or guidance.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [T]he Scholars of our eyes, / Our Beaux from Gallantry vvould ſoon be vviſe; / VVould gladly light, their homage to improve, / The Lamp of Knovvledge at the Torch of Love!

8. In carry, hand on, pass on, take up the torch: a precious cause, principle, tradition, etc., which needs to be protected and transmitted to others.

   Usage

   • Figurative

9. An arsonist.

   Usage

   • US usage
   • Slang

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   Some years ago, another Houston torch attached a kitchen match to the bell striker on an ordinary telephone so that it would vibrate when the phone rang. He placed a piece of sandpaper close enough to the match so that when the bell rang, the match rubbed the surface of the sandpaper and started a fire. The torch, after setting up the device, drove to a town many miles from his home and then dialed his home number, successfully starting a fire in his own home.

   Upon the advice of the prosecutor, who was already at the arson unit's office, the torches were not arrested, but "detained" and offered the opportunity to cooperate with the investigators in their efforts to implicate the landlord. […] As one torch had had most contact with their employer, investigators decided that he should make a call to the landlord on a tapped telephone and try and discuss the planned fire with him. The landlord was reluctant to say anything over the phone and suggested that he and the torch should meet.

   A registered confidential informant may provide information, either that a particular building has been targeted to burn or that an identified "torch" has been contracted to burn some unknown building. In the first instance, fixed surveillance at the building should be started immediately to try to catch the torch before the act.

Verb

1. To illuminate or provide (a place) with torches (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1).

   Usage

   • Transitive

2. To intentionally destroy (something) by setting it on fire, especially when committing arson in furtherance of some other criminal act (e.g. insurance fraud or the destruction of evidence).

   Usage

   • Informal
   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   burnigniteinflameset ablaze

   Narrower terms

   firebomb

   Examples

   Some hoodlums had torched a derelict automobile, which emitted a ghastly pall of thick, black smoke that filled the street.

3. To make damaging claims about (someone or something); to ruin the reputation of (someone or something); to disparage, to insult.

   Usage

   • Figurative
   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   burnmalign

   Examples

   That influencer torched the company’s PR department.

4. Of a fire: to burn.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   combustgo up

   Examples

   The flames torched up twenty feet in the air.

5. To travel in a spacecraft propelled by a torch drive (“an engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”).

   Usage

   • Intransitive

6. To (appear to) flare up like a torch.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • dialectal
   • Figurative
   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   blaze upflare up

7. To catch fish or other aquatic animals by torchlight; to go torch-fishing.

   Usage

   • US usage
   • Intransitive

Verb

1. To point (“fill up and bring to a smooth finish”) (inside joints of slates laid on laths) using lime hair mortar.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Historical
   • Transitive

Noun

1. a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance

   Broader terms

   lightlight source

2. tall-stalked very woolly mullein with densely packed yellow flowers; ancient Greeks and Romans dipped the stalks in tallow for funeral torches

   Synonyms

   common mulleingreat mulleinAaron's rodflannel mulleinwoolly mulleinVerbascum thapsus

   Broader terms

   mulleinflannel leafvelvet plant

3. a small portable battery-powered electric lamp

   Synonyms

   flashlight

   Broader terms

   electric lamp

4. a burner that mixes air and gas to produce a very hot flame

   Synonyms

   blowtorchblowlamp

   Broader terms

   burner

Verb

1. burn maliciously, as by arson

   Broader terms

   burnfireburn down

   Examples

   The madman torched the barns