torch

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torch

(tôrch)

a. A portable light produced by the flame of a stick of resinous wood or of a flammable material wound about the end of a stick of wood; a flambeau.

b. Chiefly British A flashlight.

2. Something that serves to illuminate, enlighten, or guide.

3. Slang An arsonist.

4. A portable apparatus that produces a very hot flame by the combustion of gases, used in welding and construction.

5. Longstanding unrequited romantic feelings for a person: My torch for her has finally gone out.

tr.v. torched, torch·ing, torch·es Slang

To cause to burn or undergo combustion, especially with extraordinary rapidity, force, or thoroughness.

Idioms:

carry a torch

To have longstanding feelings of love that are not requited: still carrying the torch for a man she knew in her twenties.

put to the torch

To destroy by fire; burn down.

[Middle English torche, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *torca, alteration of Latin torqua, variant of torquēs, torque, from Latin torquēre, to twist; see terk^w- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

torch

(tɔːtʃ)

1. (Electronics) a small portable electric lamp powered by one or more dry batteries. US and Canadian word: flashlight

2. a wooden or tow shaft dipped in wax or tallow and set alight

3. anything regarded as a source of enlightenment, guidance, etc: the torch of evangelism.

4. (Tools) any apparatus that burns with a hot flame for welding, brazing, or soldering

5. carry a torch for to be in love with, esp unrequitedly

6. put to the torch to set fire to; burn down: the looted monastery was put to the torch.

(tr) slang to set fire to, esp deliberately as an act of arson

[C13: from Old French torche handful of twisted straw, from Vulgar Latin torca (unattested), from Latin torquēre to twist]

ˈtorchˌlike adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

torch

(tɔrtʃ)

n.

1. a light, usu. carried in the hand, consisting of a stick of resinous wood, tallow-soaked flax, or some other flammable substance, ignited at the upper end.

2. something considered as a source of illumination, enlightenment, or guidance: the torch of learning.

3. any of various lamplike devices producing a hot flame, used for soldering, burning off paint, etc.

4. Slang. an arsonist.

5. Chiefly Brit. flashlight (def. 1).

v.t.

6. to subject to the flame or light of a torch.

7. to set fire to, esp. maliciously.

Idioms:

carry a or the torch for, to be in love with, esp. without being loved in return.

[1250–1300; Middle English torche (n.) < Old French < Vulgar Latin *torca a twist of straw, something twisted. See torque¹]

torch′a•ble, adj.

torch′like`, adj.

torch

funeral - Once was a torchlight procession, from Latin funis, "torch"—because funerals of the Romans took place at night by torchlight.
kindle - The verb is related to Old Norse kyndill, "candle, torch."
Drummond light - A torch that burns calcium oxide (lime) and gives off intense white light, it was named for Scottish engineer Capt. Thomas Drummond, R.E. (1797-1840), who invented it around 1825.
torch - From Latin torquere, it first referred to tarred twists of frayed rope.

torch

flashlight

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	torch - a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance flambeau - a flaming torch (such as are used in processions at night) light source, light - any device serving as a source of illumination; "he stopped the car and turned off the lights"
	2.	torch - tall-stalked very woolly mullein with densely packed yellow flowers; ancient Greeks and Romans dipped the stalks in tallow for funeral torches Aaron's rod, common mullein, flannel mullein, great mullein, Verbascum thapsus, woolly mullein flannel leaf, mullein, velvet plant - any of various plants of the genus Verbascum having large usually woolly leaves and terminal spikes of yellow or white or purplish flowers
	3.	torch - a small portable battery-powered electric lamp flashlight electric lamp - a lamp powered by electricity flashlight battery - a small dry battery containing dry cells; used to power flashlights penlight - a small flashlight resembling a fountain pen
	4.	torch - a burner that mixes air and gas to produce a very hot flame blowlamp, blowtorch burner - an apparatus for burning fuel (or refuse); "a diesel engine is an oil burner" oxyacetylene torch - a blowtorch that burns oxyacetylene
Verb	1.	torch - burn maliciously, as by arson; "The madman torched the barns" burn, burn down, fire - destroy by fire; "They burned the house and his diaries"

torch

noun

1. flashlight, light, lamp, beacon She shone a torch over the terrified faces.

2. firebrand, brand, taper, flaming stick They lit a torch and set fire to the chapel's thatch.

verb set fire to, burn, ignite, set on fire, kindle, set alight, incinerate, destroy by fire, set light to, reduce to ashes, put a match to The rioters torched the local library.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

torch

verb

Slang. To cause to burn or undergo combustion:

enkindle, fire, ignite, kindle, light.

Idioms: set afire, set fire to.

Translations

Spanish / Español

Select a language:

antorcha linterna

torch

[tɔːtʃ]

A. N

1. (flaming) → antorcha f, tea f
to carry the torch of democracy/progress (fig) → mantener viva la llama de la democracia/del progreso
to carry a torch for sb → estar enamorado de algn

2. (Brit) (electric) → linterna f

3. (Tech) (also blow torch) → soplete m

B. VT (= set fire to) [+ building, vehicle] → prender fuego a, incendiar

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

torch

(toːtʃ) noun

1. (American ˈflashlight) a small portable light worked by an electric battery. He shone his torch into her face.linterna

2. a piece of wood etc set on fire and carried as a light. antorcha

torch

→ linterna

References in periodicals archive ?

This law prohibits using a popular waterproof roof system -- torched down modified bitumen roof membranes -- on combustible buildings.

New roofing law requires new NYFD welding certifications

In a sudden rain, the section of the opened roof could be torched closed and then sealed with flashing cement.