torch

plural torches

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.

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

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature [G4], recto

   [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.

   1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Philters Magicall and Poeticall Cures”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 3, section 2, member 5, subsection 4, page 652

   [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— […]

   1821 January 8, [Walter Scott], chapter XI, in Kenilworth; a Romance. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, […]; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 210

   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.

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Three. The Second of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 77

   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, […]

   1936, William Faulkner, chapter IX, in Absalom, Absalom!, New York, N.Y.: The Modern Library, published 1951, →OCLC, page 370

   Synonyms: brand, firebrand, flambeau

   1. broadlyA similarly shaped implement with a replaceable supply of flammable material; specifically, a pole with a lamp at one end.

      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.

      2008 April 22–28, Rohit Mahajan, Ashish Kumar Sen, “Ah, the Human Race”, in Vinod Mehta, editor, Outlook: The Weekly Newsmagazine, New Delhi: Maheshwer Peri on behalf of Outlook Publishing, →OCLC, page 48

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      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.

      1984 June–July, Frances A. Harmon, “The Olympic Games—for Good and All”, in John H[arold] Johnson, editor, Ebony Jr!, volume 12, number 2, Chicago, Ill.: Johnson Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18, column 2

      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.

      2024 August 18 (last accessed), “Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch: A Symbol of Equality, Water, and Peacefulness”, in Paralympic.org, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia: International Paralympic Committee, archived from the original on 18 Aug 2024

      Synonyms: brand, firebrand, flambeau

   2. CommonwealthabbreviationbroadlyellipsisEllipsis of electric torch: synonym of flashlight (“a battery-powered hand-held light source”).

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

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      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.

      1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, “‘Who could have Foreseen it?’”, in The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC, page 140

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

      1974 October 2, Peter Stone, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, spoken by Blue (Robert Shaw), Culver City, Calif.: United Artists, →OCLC

      [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.

      1988, Nicholas Joseph Tailey, Simon O’Connor, “The Nervous System”, in Clinical Examination: A Guide to Physical Diagnosis, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Blackwell Scientific Publications, published 1989, →ISBN, page 352

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

      1999, Natalie Kruger, “Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef”, in Natalie Kruger, Marc Llewellyn, edited by Suzanne Roe Jannetta, Frommer’s 99: Australia, New York, N.Y.: Macmillan Travel, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 398

      The island has only one road and relatively few cars. There are no streetlights so you'll need to bring a torch with you, or buy one from Joy's Shop, if you want to venture out at night.

      1999 August, Margo Daly, Anne Dehne, David Leffman, Chris Scott [et al.], “New South Wales and ACT”, in Kieran Falconer, Harriet Sharkey, editors, Australia: The Rough Guide, 4th edition, London: Rough Guides, →ISBN, part 2 (The Guide), page 289

      Synonyms: brand, firebrand, flambeau, torchlight

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

   1578, Rembert Dodoens, “Of Plantayne or Waybrede”, in Henry Lyte, transl., A Niewe Herball, or Historie of Plantes: […], London: […] [Henry [i.e., Hendrik van der] Loë for] Gerard Dewes, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Sundry Sortes of Herbes and Plantes), page 91

4. broadlyin pluralbiologyThe common mullein, great mullein, or torchwort (Verbascum thapsus).

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   [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: […]

   1578, Rembert Dodoens, “Of Mulleyne⸝ or Hygtaper”, in Henry Lyte, transl., A Niewe Herball, or Historie of Plantes: […], London: […] [Henry [i.e., Hendrik van der] Loë for] Gerard Dewes, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Sundry Sortes of Herbes and Plantes), pages 118–120

5. broadlyobsoletebiologyA cactus with a very elongated body; a ceroid cactus; a torch cactus or torch-thistle.

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   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, […]

   1597, John Gerarde [i.e., John Gerard], “Of the Gummie Thistle Called Euphorbium”, in The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. […], London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant, for Bonham and Iohn Norton, →OCLC, book II, page 1015

6. figurativelyA 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!

   1775 January 17 (first performance), [Richard Brinsley Sheridan], “Epilogue. By the Author. Spoken by Mrs. [Mary] Bulkley.”, in The Rivals, a Comedy. […], London: […] John Wilkie, […], published 1775, →OCLC, page 19

7. figurativelyIn 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. abbreviationellipsisliteratureEllipsis of torch drive (“a spacecraft engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”).
9. CanadaUSabbreviationellipsisEllipsis of blowtorch (“a tool which projects a controlled stream of a highly flammable gas over a spark in order to produce a controlled flame”).
10. USslangAn arsonist.

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    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.

    1978 September 13, Leonard Mikeska, witness, “Testimony of Leonard Mikeska, Chief Arson Investigator, Houston Fire Department, Houston, Tex.”, in Arson-for-hire: Hearings before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, Second Session […], Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 172

    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.

    1984 March, Herbert F. Weisberg, Judith D. Feins, Jan Schreiber, “The Investigative Process: Getting Cases to Prosecution”, in Arson Investigation and Prosecution: A Study of Four Major American Cities (National Institute of Justice Research Report), Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, →OCLC, page 137

    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.

    1997, David R. Redsicker, John J. O’Connor, “Surveillance”, in Practical Fire and Arson Investigation, 2nd edition, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, →ISBN, page 358

present singular third person torches · participle present torching · participle past torched · past torched

1. transitiveTo illuminate or provide (a place) with torches (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1).
2. informaltransitiveTo 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.

   Synonyms: burn, ignite, inflame, set ablaze, aflame, alight, conflagrate, fire

3. figurativelytransitiveTo 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.

   Synonyms: burn, malign, assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth, befoul, belibel

4. intransitiveOf a fire: to burn.

   The flames torched up twenty feet in the air.

   Synonyms: combust, go up, burn, combust, forburn, go up, outburn

5. intransitiveliteratureTo travel in a spacecraft propelled by a torch drive (“an engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”).
6. UKdialectalfigurativelyintransitiveTo (appear to) flare up like a torch.

   Synonyms: blaze up, flare up

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

present singular third person torches · participle present torching · participle past torched · past torched

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