torch

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.

   “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.”

   “[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.”

2. (broadly)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.

   “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. (Commonwealth, abbreviation, alt-of, broadly, ellipsis)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.

   “Ernst slipped and dropped his torch on the flagstones, shattering the bulb and plunging us into darkness.”

   “We were too excited to return to the camp, but must make our first exploration at once. Lord John had an electric torch in his knapsack, and this had to serve us as light.”

   “I want you to send two unarmed policemen into the tunnel, carrying the money, and waving a torch in front of them.”

   “[L]ook at the pupils [of the eyes], noting the shape, relative sizes and any associated ptosis. Use a pocket torch and shine the light from the side to gauge the reaction of the pupils to light.”

   “If you can be bothered to carry them, it is a good idea to bring a torch (flashlight) and maybe binoculars for wildlife spotting.”

4. (broadly)A flower which is red or red-orange in colour like a flame.
5. (broadly)A spike (“kind of inflorescence”) made up of spikelets.

   “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.”

6. (broadly, in-plural)The common mullein, great mullein, or torchwort (Verbascum thapsus).

   “[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: […]”

7. (broadly, obsolete)A cactus with a very elongated body; a ceroid cactus; a torch cactus or torch-thistle.

   “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, […]”

8. (figuratively)A source of enlightenment or guidance.

   “[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!”

9. (figuratively)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.
10. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of torch drive (“a spacecraft engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”).
11. (Canada, US, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of blowtorch (“a tool which projects a controlled stream of a highly flammable gas over a spark in order to produce a controlled flame”).
12. (US, slang)An arsonist.

    “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.”

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

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

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

   “That influencer torched the company’s PR department.”

4. (intransitive)Of a fire: to burn.

   “The flames torched up twenty feet in the air.”

5. (intransitive)To travel in a spacecraft propelled by a torch drive (“an engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”).
6. (UK, dialectal, figuratively, intransitive)To (appear to) flare up like a torch.
7. (US, intransitive)To catch fish or other aquatic animals by torchlight; to go torch-fishing.
8. (archaic, historical, transitive)To point (“fill up and bring to a smooth finish”) (inside joints of slates laid on laths) using lime hair mortar.