torch
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A burning stick carried for light; in the UK, a flashlight.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
tawrchIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈtɔɹtʃ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
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.
by extension
A similarly shaped implement with a replaceable supply of flammable material; specifically, a pole with a lamp at one end.
figurative
A source of enlightenment or guidance.
figurative
In carry, hand on,take up pass on the torch: a precious cause, principle, tradition, etc., which needs to be protected and transmitted to others.
Tall-stalked very woolly mullein with densely packed yellow flowers; ancient Greeks and Romans dipped the stalks in tallow for funeral torches
verb
intransitive
Of a fire: to burn.
transitivefigurative
To make damaging claims about (someone or something); to ruin the reputation of (someone or something); to disparage, to insult.
transitive
To illuminate or provide (a place) with torches (noun etymology 1, sense 1).
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
Used this way, torch is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use torch
- “He carried a powerful torch to light his way through the dark cave.”
Share your sentence
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: light usually carried in the hand
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “torch” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.