torch

1 of 2

noun

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

torch

2 of 2

verb

torched; torching; torches

transitive verb

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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
As the room suddenly darkens, our guide Mona attempts to deflect potential panic, sharing an extra light torch and boasting about her professional preparedness. Natasha Gural, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 That meant standing inside a metal cylinder, roughly twice the size of a household water heater, using an argon-gas torch whose flame can burn as hot as 20,000 degrees. Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
Over the past week, two ballot drop boxes and one USPS mailbox have been torched in three separate incidents in Arizona, Oregon and Washington. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024 Guevara also said a portable toilet at the same site had been torched. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for torch 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of torch was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near torch

Cite this Entry

“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torch. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on torch

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