# torch

/ˈtɔɹtʃ/ (US) · /tˈɔːtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/torch
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. battery-powered light

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

a small electric lamp that you carry in your hand.

For teachers: a portable, battery-operated electric lamp. This is the standard term in British English, equivalent to the American 'flashlight'.

- She used a torch to find her way through the dark garden.
- The hikers checked their torches before entering the cave, ensuring the batteries were fresh enough for the three-hour trek.

Usage: In British English, 'torch' is the everyday word for a handheld light; 'flashlight' is rarely used.

### 2. flaming stick

noun · CEFR B1

a long stick with a burning end used as a light source.

For teachers: a wooden pole or brand with a flammable end ignited to provide light or to set fire to something.

- The villagers carried torches to light the path during the festival.
- The castle guards placed burning torches in iron brackets along the stone corridor to illuminate the entrance for the arriving guests.

### 3. symbol of guidance

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a source of light that represents a great idea or leadership.

For teachers: a figurative source of enlightenment, inspiration, or a tradition passed from one person to another.

- The teacher passed the torch of knowledge to her students.
- The retiring CEO expressed his confidence in the new leadership team as they prepared to take up the torch and guide the firm through the merger.

### 4. to set on fire

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to intentionally set fire to a building or vehicle.

For teachers: to deliberately set fire to property, often in the context of arson or total destruction.

- The old warehouse was torched by vandals over the weekend.
- The investigators concluded that the restaurant had been torched for insurance money, as they found traces of accelerant in the kitchen area.

### 5. to ruin a reputation

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Slang

to say very bad things about someone to ruin their reputation.

For teachers: to severely criticise or disparage someone or something, effectively destroying their credibility or reputation.

- The critic torched the director's new movie in his latest review.
- The senator's reputation was torched by the leaked documents, leaving him with almost no support from his own party during the election.

## Examples

- I used a torch to find my keys in the dark.
- The power went out during the storm, so we had to use a torch to walk down the stairs safely.
- The rescue team moved slowly through the cave, their torches casting long, flickering shadows against the damp limestone walls as they searched for the missing hikers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.