Torch

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

Torch, n. [OE. torche, F. torche a torch, rag, wisp, pad; probably from a derivative of L. torquere, tortum, to twist, because twisted like a rope; cf. F. torcher to rub, wipe, It. topcia a torch, torciare to wrap, twist, OF. torse a torse. Cf. Torture.].

•  A light or luminary formed of some combustible substance, as of resinous wood; a large candle or flambeau, or a lamp giving a large, flaring flame.  [1913 Webster]

  "They light the nuptial torch."  [1913 Webster]
•  A flashlight.  [1913 Webster]

Torch thistle. (Bot.) See under Thistle.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Torch, n. & v.
--n.
1 (also electric torch) Brit. a portable battery-powered electric lamp.
2 a a piece of wood, cloth, etc., soaked in tallow and lighted for illumination. b any similar lamp, e.g. an oil-lamp on a pole.
3 a source of heat, illumination, or enlightenment (bore aloft the torch of freedom).
4 esp. US a blowlamp.
5 US sl. an arsonist.
--v.tr. esp. US sl. set alight with a torch.

Idiom

carry a torch for suffer from unrequited love for. put to the torch destroy by burning. torch-fishing catching fish by torchlight at night. torch-race Gk Antiq. a festival performance of runners handing lighted torches to others in relays. torch singer a woman who sings torch songs. torch song a popular song of unrequited love. torch-thistle any tall cactus of the genus Cereus, with funnel-shaped flowers which open at night.

Etymology

ME f. OF torche f. L torqua f. torquere twist

THESAURUS

Torch

acetylene welder, angle, arsonist, bait the hook, bank, blast lamp, blowpipe, blowtorch, bob, brand, burn, burner, butane lighter, candle, cigarette lighter, clam, conflagrate, cresset, dap, dib, dibble, drive, electric light bulb, enkindle, fan the flame, feed, feed the fire, fire, firebrand, firebug, fish, flambeau, flame, flaming torch, flare, flint, flint and steel, fly-fish, fusee, gig, glim, go fishing, grig, guddle, ignite, igniter, illuminant, illuminator, incandescent body, inflame, jack, jacklight, jig, kindle, lamp, lantern, light, light bulb, light source, light up, lighter, link, luminant, luminary, match, moon, net, portfire, rekindle, relight, relume, seine, set fire to, set on fire, shrimp, signal flare, source of light, sparker, spill, spin, stars, still-fish, stir the fire, stoke, stoke the fire, strike a light, sun, taper, touch off, trawl, troll, welder, welding blowpipe, whale

ROGET THESAURUS

Torch

Fuel

N fuel, firing, combustible, coal, wallsend, anthracite, culm, coke, carbon, charcoal, bituminous coal, tar shale, turf, peat, firewood, bobbing, faggot, log, cinder, ingle, tinder, touchwood, sulphur, brimstone, incense, port-fire, fire-barrel, fireball, brand, amadou, bavin, blind coal, glance coal, German tinder, pyrotechnic sponge, punk, smudge, solid fueled rocket, wax, paraffin wax, paraffin oil, lamp oil, whale oil, oil, petroleum, gasoline, high octane gasoline, nitromethane, petrol, gas, juice, gasohol, alcohol, ethanol, methanol, fuel oil, kerosene, jet fuel, heating oil, number 2 oil, number 4 oil, naphtha, rocket fuel, high specific impulse fuel, liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, lox, natural gas, synthetic gas, synthesis gas, propane, butane, hydrogen, brand, torch, fuse, wick, spill, match, light, lucifer, congreve, vesuvian, vesta, fusee, locofoco, linstock, candle, oil, carbonaceous, combustible, inflammable, high octane, high specific impulse, heat of combustion.

Luminary

N luminary, light, flame, spark, scintilla, phosphorescence, fluorescence, sun, orb of day, Phoebus, Apollo, Aurora, star, orb, meteor, falling star, shooting star, blazing star, dog star, Sirius, canicula, Aldebaran, constellation, galaxy, zodiacal light, anthelion, day star, morning star, Lucifer, mock sun, parhelion, phosphor, phosphorus, sun dog, Venus, aurora, polar lights, northern lights, aurora borealis, southern lights, aurora australis, lightning, chain lightning, fork lightning, sheet lightning, summer lightning, ball lightning, kugelblitz, phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, scintillator, phosphor, firefly luminescence, ignis fatuus, Jack o'lantern, Friar's lantern, will-o'-the- wisp, firedrake, Fata Morgana, Saint Elmo's fire, glowworm, firefly, June bug, lightning bug, anglerfish, gas, gas light, lime light, lantern, lanthorn, dark lantern, bull's-eye, candle, bougie, taper, rushlight, oil, wick, burner, Argand, moderator, duplex, torch, flambeau, link, brand, gaselier, chandelier, electrolier, candelabrum, candelabra, girandole, sconce, luster, candlestick, lamp, light, incandescent lamp, tungsten bulb, light bulb, flashlight, torch, arc light, laser, maser neon bulb, neon sign, fluorescent lamp, filament, socket, contacts, filler gas, firework, fizgig, pyrotechnics, rocket, lighthouse, self-luminous, glowing, phosphoric, phosphorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent, radiant, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels, the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, the planets in their station list'ning stood, the Scriptures of the skies, that orbed continent, the fire that severs day from night, luminary, light, flame, spark, scintilla, phosphorescence, fluorescence, sun, orb of day, Phoebus, Apollo, Aurora, star, orb, meteor, falling star, shooting star, blazing star, dog star, Sirius, canicula, Aldebaran, constellation, galaxy, zodiacal light, anthelion, day star, morning star, Lucifer, mock sun, parhelion, phosphor, phosphorus, sun dog, Venus, aurora, polar lights, northern lights, aurora borealis, southern lights, aurora australis, lightning, chain lightning, fork lightning, sheet lightning, summer lightning, ball lightning, kugelblitz, phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, scintillator, phosphor, firefly luminescence, ignis fatuus, Jack o'lantern, Friar's lantern, will-o'-the- wisp, firedrake, Fata Morgana, Saint Elmo's fire, glowworm, firefly, June bug, lightning bug, anglerfish, gas, gas light, lime light, lantern, lanthorn, dark lantern, bull's-eye, candle, bougie, taper, rushlight, oil, wick, burner, Argand, moderator, duplex, torch, flambeau, link, brand, gaselier, chandelier, electrolier, candelabrum, candelabra, girandole, sconce, luster, candlestick, lamp, light, incandescent lamp, tungsten bulb, light bulb, flashlight, torch, arc light, laser, maser neon bulb, neon sign, fluorescent lamp, filament, socket, contacts, filler gas, firework, fizgig, pyrotechnics, rocket, lighthouse, self-luminous, glowing, phosphoric, phosphorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent, radiant, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels, the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, the planets in their station list'ning stood, the Scriptures of the skies, that orbed continent, the fire that severs day from night.