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torch

1 of 2

noun

ˈtȯrch

often attributive

Synonyms oftorch next

:a burning stick of resinous wood or twist of tow used to give light and usually carried in the hand:flambeau

:something (such as tradition, wisdom, or knowledge) likened to a torch as giving light or guidance

pass thetorch to the next generation

:any of various portable devices for emitting an unusually hot flame compareblowtorch

chiefly British:flashlightsense 1

:incendiarysense 2b

torch

2 of 2

verb

torched;torching;torches

transitive verb

:to set fire to with or as if with a torch

Synonyms oftorch

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Noun

Verb

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Examples oftorch in a Sentence

Noun several suspicious fires in the past few months have probably been set by the sametorchVerb An arsonisttorched the building. police suspect that the ownertorched the house for the insurance money

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage.Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.

Noun

Shortly after Gasthaus closed in April 2022, her daughter, Nina Greipel, carried thetorch.—

Amanda Hancock,Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Feb. 2026The moment between the two on stage was a symbolic passing of thetorch.—

Jesse Granger,New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026

Verb

Atwood was firing back at would-be book-burners bytorching an unburnable edition.—

Jon Wertheim,CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026Is there a more perfect image for the Valentine’s Day hater than Angela Bassetttorching her cheating husband’s car and strutting away with the fiercest look ever committed to screen?—

New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026See All Example Sentences fortorch

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle Englishtorche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin*torca, alteration of Latintorqua something twisted, collar of twisted metal, alteration oftorques; akin to Latintorquēre to twist — more attortureentry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined atsense 1

Verb

1901, in the meaning definedabove

Time Traveler

The first known use oftorch was in the 13th century

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Phrases Containingtorch

Rhymes fortorch

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Browse Nearby Words

Torcello

torch

torch azalea

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Torch.”Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torch. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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Kids Definition

torch

noun

ˈtȯ(ə)rch

:a flaming light made of something that burns brightly and usually is carried in the hand

:something that guides or gives light or heat like a torch

:any of various portable devices for producing a hot flame compareblowtorch

chiefly British:flashlight

Medical Definition

TORCH

noun

ˈtȯrch

:a group of infectious diseases that cause similar symptoms in newborns and that include especiallytoxoplasmosis,cytomegalovirus,herpes simplex, andrubella

Etymology

Noun

toxoplasma,rubella virus,cytomegalovirus,herpes simplex virus