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# torch

«torch» in Mova's school dictionary: **In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, a torch is…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a torch, torches); verb (torch, torches, torched, torching — to set on fire)

### meaning for a pupil

1) In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, a torch is a small electric light you hold in your hand and that works with batteries; in the USA and Canada this is a flashlight. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#m1)

2) A torch is also a stick with a flame at the top, like the Olympic torch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#m2)

3) To torch something means to set it on fire on purpose. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life and safety lessons a torch is part of an emergency kit for power cuts, and useful when camping or walking in the dark; check the batteries. In science a torch shows that light travels in straight lines and makes shadows. In history and stories flaming torches lit castles and caves. Phrases: shine a torch, torchlight, the Olympic torch, carry the torch.

### examples

- Take a torch with you when we go camping. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x1)
- Shine the torch under the bed to find my sock. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x2)
- The power went off, so we used a torch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x3)
- In America, a torch is called a flashlight. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x4)
- The runner carried the Olympic torch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x5)
- We made shadow puppets with a torch on the wall. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x6)
- Check the torch batteries before the trip. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x7)
- Explorers used burning torches to see in the cave. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x8)
- Hecate appears as a gigantic woman, bearing a torch and a sword. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/#x9)

### note

Plural: torches (add -es). Pupils in the USA and Canada say «flashlight» for the battery light; «torch» there usually means a flaming stick. Never shine a torch straight into someone's eyes.

### In the corpora

- [Monsters are not real, and looking with a torch and a parent shows there is nothing there.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/100-standing-up-nightmares-and-the-dark/15/)
- [A good hike is planned: water, snacks, a map, a torch and a plan to be back before dark.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/230-hiking-and-camping/0/)
- [Carry a torch and plan to be back before dark, because paths are hard to follow in the dark.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/230-hiking-and-camping/14/)
- [A doctor looks inside the ear with an otoscope, a small torch with a magnifying lens.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/medicine/9-sore-throats-ears-and-eyes/16/)
- [The battery in a torch is gentle: you can hold it all day.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/technology/16-electricity-dangers/0/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «torch» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torch/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.