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.
Phrases and idioms:
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