torches
noun · verb
Form of torch , plural of torch.
Simple meaning
A light usually carried in the hand.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
tawrchizSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈtɔɹtʃɪz
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
plural of torch
A light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
plural of torch
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.
plural of torch
A similarly shaped implement with a replaceable supply of flammable material; specifically, a pole with a lamp at one end.
plural of torch
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.
verb
third-person singular of torch
Of a fire: to burn.
third-person singular of torchfigurative
To make damaging claims about (someone or something); to ruin the reputation of (someone or something); to disparage, to insult.
third-person singular of torch
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, torches 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.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
A light usually carried in the hand.
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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.