torch

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /tɔːtʃ/ (General American) IPA(key): /tɔɹt͡ʃ/ Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)tʃ === Etymology 1 === The noun is derived from Middle English torch, torche (“large candle; lighted stick; (figurative) sunbeam”), from Old French torche, torque (“torch; bundle of (twisted) straw”) (modern French torche); further etymology uncertain, probably from Vulgar Latin *torca (“coiled object”) (referring to a torch made from twisted plant fibres dipped in a flammable substance such as pitch), from Latin torqua, a variant of torquis (“collar of twisted metal, torque; wreath”), from torqueō (“to twist, wind”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *terkʷ- (“to spin; to turn”). Sense 2.3 (Verbascum thapsus) is either due to the plant’s spike of yellow flowers, or because its leaves and stalks were used to make torches (noun sense 1). Sense 3.2 (“precious cause, etc., which needs to be protected and transmitted to others”) is derived from Latin lampada trādere, from Ancient Greek λᾰμπᾰ́δᾰ πᾰρᾰδιδόναι (lămpắdă părădidónai, “to hand over the torch”), a reference to the torch race held at various festivals such as the Panathenaic Games in Ancient Greece, which involved a relay where a torch was passed from one runner to another. The verb is derived from the noun. ==== Noun ==== torch (plural torches) 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. Synonyms: brand, firebrand, flambeau (by extension) A similarly shaped implement with a replaceable supply of flammable material; specifically, a pole with a lamp at one end. (by extension, Commonwealth) Ellipsis of electric torch: synonym of flashlight (“a battery-powered hand-held light source”). Synonym: (India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore) torchlight (by extension, botany) A flower which is red or red-orange in colour like a flame. A spike (“kind of inflorescence”) made up of spikelets. (chiefly in the plural) The common mullein, great mullein, or torchwort (Verbascum thapsus). (obsolete) A cactus with a very elongated body; a ceroid cactus; a torch cactus or torch-thistle. (figurative) A source of enlightenment or guidance. 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. (science fiction) Ellipsis of torch drive (“a spacecraft engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”). (chiefly Canada, US) 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”). (US, slang) An arsonist. ===== Hyponyms ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== handlamp headlamp ==== Verb ==== torch (third-person singular simple present torches, present participle torching, simple past and past participle torched) (transitive) To illuminate or provide (a place) with torches (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1). (informal, originally US) 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). Synonyms: burn, ignite, inflame, set ablaze; see also Thesaurus:kindle Hyponym: firebomb (figurative) To make damaging claims about (someone or something); to ruin the reputation of (someone or something); to disparage, to insult. Synonyms: burn, malign; see also Thesaurus:defame (intransitive) Of a fire: to burn. Synonyms: combust, go up; see also Thesaurus:burn (science fiction) To travel in a spacecraft propelled by a torch drive (“an engine which produces thrust by nuclear fusion”). (UK, dialectal, figurative) To (appear to) flare up like a torch. Synonyms: blaze up, flare up (US, fishing) To catch fish or other aquatic animals by torchlight; to go torch-fishing. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Borrowed from French torcher (“to daub; to wipe; to build or plaster with clay mixed with chopped straw”), from torche (“bundle of (twisted) straw; torch”) (see further at etymology 1) + -er (suffix forming the infinitives of first-conjugation verbs). ==== Verb ==== torch (third-person singular simple present torches, present participle torching, simple past and past participle torched) (transitive, masonry, archaic or historical) To point (“fill up and bring to a smooth finish”) (inside joints of slates laid on laths) using lime hair mortar. ===== Translations ===== === References === === Further reading === torch on Wikipedia.Wikipedia torch (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2026), “torch, n.; torch, v.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction. === Anagrams === troch. == Middle English == === Noun === torch alternative form of torche == Welsh == === Etymology === From Middle Welsh torch, from Proto-Brythonic *torx, from Latin torquis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /tɔrχ/ Rhymes: -ɔrχ === Noun === torch f (plural torchau) torque (tightly braided collar) coil, ring, wreath ==== Derived terms ==== plethdorch (“wreath”) torchi (“to coil”) torchog (“coiled”) === Mutation === === Further reading === R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke, et al., editors (1950–present), “torch”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies