I. torch 1 /tɔːtʃ $ tɔːrtʃ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: torche 'bunch of twisted straws, torch' , from Vulgar Latin torca ]
1 . British English a small electric lamp that you carry in your hand SYN flashlight American English :
We shone our torches around the cavern.
2 . a long stick with burning material at one end that produces light:
the Olympic torch
3 . carry a torch for somebody old-fashioned to secretly love and admire someone
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THESAURUS
▪ light something that produces light, especially electric light, to help you to see:
She switched the kitchen light on.
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The lights in the house were all off.
▪ lamp an object that produces light by using electricity, oil, or gas - often used in names of lights:
a bedside lamp
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a street lamp
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a desk lamp
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a table lamp
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an old oil lamp
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a paraffin lamp
▪ lantern a lamp that you can carry, consisting of a metal container with glass sides that surrounds a flame or light:
The miners used lanterns which were lit by candles.
▪ torch British English , flashlight American English a small electric lamp that you carry in your hand:
We shone our torches around the cavern.
▪ candle a stick of wax with a string through the middle, which you burn to give light:
The restaurant was lit by candles.
▪ bulb the glass part of an electric light, that the light shines from:
a 100 watt bulb
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an energy-saving light bulb
II. torch 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
informal to deliberately make a building, vehicle etc start to burn:
Rioters torched several abandoned cars.