Meaning

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..

Definitions by Sense

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.
2. A flower which is red or red-orange in colour like a flame.
3. A spike (“kind of inflorescence”) made up of spikelets.
4. The common mullein, great mullein, or torchwort (Verbascum thapsus).
5. A cactus with a very elongated body; a ceroid cactus; a torch cactus or torch-thistle.
6. A source of enlightenment or guidance.
7. 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.
8. (science fiction) Ellipsis of torch drive (“a spacecraft engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”).

Example Sentences

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.

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.

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.

Word Forms

• torches
• torching
• torched

Synonyms for torch

Related Words

When Should You Use Torch?

Use torch when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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