often attributive
1
: a burning stick of resinous wood or twist of tow used to give light and usually carried in the hand : flambeau
2
: something (such as tradition, wisdom, or knowledge) likened to a torch as giving light or guidance
pass the torch to the next generation
3
: any of various portable devices for emitting an unusually hot flame compare blowtorch
4
chiefly British
: flashlight sense 1
torched; torching; torches
: to set fire to with or as if with a torch
Synonyms
Examples of torch in a Sentence
Noun
several suspicious fires in the past few months have probably been set by the same torch
Verb
An arsonist torched the building.
police suspect that the owner torched the house for the insurance money
Recent Examples on the Web
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
Ultimately Biden, who initially insisted on staying in the race before dropping out in a surprise announcement in mid-July, did pass the torch to Harris, ending his own presidential campaign and endorsing her as his successor.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
The San Diego Padres torched Buehler for six runs in the second inning of Game 3 in the National League Division Series.
—Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for torch 
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Noun
Following in the footsteps of groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A., today’s artists are carrying the torch forward, proving that hip-hop remains a powerful vehicle for change.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
Ultimately Biden, who initially insisted on staying in the race before dropping out in a surprise announcement in mid-July, did pass the torch to Harris, ending his own presidential campaign and endorsing her as his successor.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
That’s because Booker torched the Clippers for 40 points to go along with eight assists and five rebounds.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
The San Diego Padres torched Buehler for six runs in the second inning of Game 3 in the National League Division Series.
—Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for torch
Dictionary Entries Near torch
Cite this Entry
“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torch. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
TORCH
noun
: a group of pathological agents that cause similar symptoms in newborns and that include especially a toxoplasma (Toxoplasma gonii), cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and the togavirus causing German measles
Etymology
Noun
toxoplasma, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus
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