torch

1 of 2

noun

ˈtȯrch 

often attributive

1

: a burning stick of resinous wood or twist of tow used to give light and usually carried in the hand : flambeau

2

: something (such as tradition, wisdom, or knowledge) likened to a torch as giving light or guidance

pass the torch to the next generation

3

: any of various portable devices for emitting an unusually hot flame compare blowtorch

4

chiefly British : flashlight sense 1

5

: incendiary sense 2b

torch

2 of 2

verb

torched; torching; torches

transitive verb

: to set fire to with or as if with a torch

Synonyms

Noun

• arsonist
• firebug
• incendiary

Verb

• burn
• enkindle
• fire
• ignite
• inflame
• enflame
• kindle
• light

Examples of torch in a Sentence

Noun

several suspicious fires in the past few months have probably been set by the same torch

Verb

An arsonist torched the building.

police suspect that the owner torched the house for the insurance money

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Advertisement The Ravens have had two general managers in their nearly 30-year existence, with Ozzie Newsome beginning in 1996 and passing the torch to Eric DeCosta in 2019. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025

After over four decades at the helm of Waterloo Records, owner John Kunz passes the torch to Caren Kelleher, founder and CEO of Gold Rush Vinyl, and Austin entrepreneur Trey Watson. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 7 Jan. 2025

Verb

The Hurst Fire had burned more than 770 acres and was 37% contained, and the Eaton Fire had torched nearly 14,000 acres and was 3% contained, according to Cal Fire. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025

Still, this week’s California fires, while on track to be the costliest in U.S. history, are far from the largest, even in the state—a record held, per CAL FIRE, by the 2020 August Complex fire that torched more than a million acres. —Chad De Guzman, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English torche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *torca, alteration of Latin torqua something twisted, collar of twisted metal, alteration of torques; akin to Latin torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1901, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing torch

• carry a torch
• carry the torch
• pass the torch (on)
• plasma torch
• torch singer
• torch song

Kids Definition

torch

noun

ˈtȯ(ə)rch

1

: a flaming light made of something that burns brightly and usually is carried in the hand

2

: something that guides or gives light or heat like a torch

3

: any of various portable devices for producing a hot flame compare blowtorch

4

chiefly British : flashlight

Medical Definition

TORCH

noun

ˈtȯrch 

: a group of pathological agents that cause similar symptoms in newborns and that include especially a toxoplasma (Toxoplasma gonii), cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and the togavirus causing German measles

Etymology

Noun

toxoplasma, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus