a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
"The hikers lit their torch to navigate through the dark forest, relying on the flame from the flammable wax inside."
tall-stalked very woolly mullein with densely packed yellow flowers; ancient Greeks and Romans dipped the stalks in tallow for funeral torches
"The tall, woolly plant known as a torch bears densely packed yellow flowers that inspired ancient Greeks and Romans to dip its stalks in tallow for funeral rites."
a small portable battery-powered electric lamp
"The hiker switched on his torch to navigate through the dark cave."
A stick with a flame on one end, used chiefly as a light source; a similarly shaped implement with a replaceable supply of flammable material.
"The hikers lit their torch to navigate through the dark cave after running out of matches."
In plain English: A torch is a handheld flashlight that uses batteries to produce light so you can see in the dark.
"He dropped his torch in the dark alley and had to bend down to pick it up."
Usage: Use "torch" for the handheld device that produces an open flame or electric arc, while reserving "flashlight" for battery-powered lights with enclosed bulbs. When used as a verb in British English, it means to set something on fire by applying this light source directly.
To set fire to, especially by use of a torch (flaming stick).
"The rioters decided to torch the old barn down to its foundations."
In plain English: To torch something means to set it on fire and burn it down quickly.
"The fire caught quickly and soon torched the dry grass in seconds."
The word "torch" comes from the Old French torche, which originally referred to a bundle of twisted straw used as a light source. Its ultimate roots lie in Latin words for twisting or winding metal into collars and wreaths.