torchnoun
uk/tɔːtʃ/us/tɔːrtʃ/B2 [ C ] UK US flashlight a small light that is held in the hand and usually gets its power from batteries:
She flashed/shone the torch into the dark room.
[ C ] a thick stick with material that burns tied to the top of it, used to give light:
a flaming/blazing torch
literary Many buildings were put to the torch (= burned intentionally) during the riots.
[ S ] approving used as a symbol of a political movement or idea that has an important positive influence:
She promised that the party would carry the torch of progressivism into the next decade.
More examples
- The torch sends out a powerful beam of light.
- The policeman walked along the street, shining a torch into every car.
- The lighting of the Olympic torch symbolizes peace and friendship among the nations of the world.
- She flashed the torch into the dark room.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Lighting & light fittings in the home
- bulb
- candelabra
- candle
- candlestick
- chandelier
- Chinese lantern
- gaslight
- globe
- halogen lamp
- hurricane lamp
- lamp
- lampshade
- nightlight
- penlight
- searchlight
- shade
- standard lamp
- strip light
- torchlight
- wick
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Tools
torchverb [ T ]
uk/tɔːtʃ/us/tɔːrtʃ/to burn a building or other large thing, intentionally and usually illegally:
They smashed a side door to get in and then torched the warehouse when they had taken what they wanted.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Starting fires
- bellows
- combust
- fire
- fire starter
- firelighter
- ignite
- ignition
- incendiary
- kindle
- kindling
- light
- make
- put
- put sth out 1
- relight
- set fire to sth/sb idiom
- splutter
- strike
- tinder
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