torch Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
  2. noun tall-stalked very woolly mullein with densely packed yellow flowers; ancient Greeks and Romans dipped the stalks in tallow for funeral torches
    common mullein; woolly mullein; Aaron's rod; great mullein; flannel mullein; Verbascum thapsus.
  3. noun a small portable battery-powered electric lamp
    flashlight.
  4. noun a burner that mixes air and gas to produce a very hot flame
    blowlamp; blowtorch.
  5. verb burn maliciously, as by arson
    • The madman torched the barns

WordNet

Torch noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  1. 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.
    They light the nuptial torch. Milton.
    2. A flashlight. [Brit.]

Webster 1913