"torchbearer" meaning in English

See torchbearer in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: torchbearers [plural]
Etymology: From torch + bearer. Etymology templates: {{compound|en|torch|bearer}} torch + bearer Head templates: {{en-noun}} torchbearer (plural torchbearers)
  1. A person who carries a torch (flaming brand). Synonyms: lampadephore, mussaul [India, archaic], mussaulchee [India, archaic] Translations (one who carries a torch): 火炬手 (huǒjùshǒu) (Chinese Mandarin), soihdunkantaja (Finnish), porte-flambeau [masculine] (French), porte-torche [masculine] (French), torchiero (Ido), факло́носец (faklónosec) [masculine] (Macedonian), факелоно́сец (fakelonósec) [masculine] (Russian), фа́кельщик (fákelʹščik) [masculine] (Russian)
    Sense id: en-torchbearer-en-noun-VFgEpNHk Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Ido translations, Terms with Macedonian translations, Terms with Mandarin translations, Terms with Russian translations, Fire, People Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 53 5 42 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 57 7 36 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 58 3 39 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 60 3 37 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 61 9 30 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 58 11 31 Disambiguation of Terms with Ido translations: 61 7 32 Disambiguation of Terms with Macedonian translations: 67 9 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Mandarin translations: 58 9 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 62 9 30 Disambiguation of Fire: 100 0 0 Disambiguation of People: 36 27 37 Disambiguation of 'one who carries a torch': 65 8 27
  2. (by extension) The leader of a campaign, or one who gives inspiration to others. Tags: broadly
    Sense id: en-torchbearer-en-noun-LbbHCizK Categories (other): People Disambiguation of People: 36 27 37
  3. (figurative) One who carries on a movement or organization from someone else. Tags: figuratively
    Sense id: en-torchbearer-en-noun-ujBsvN2R Categories (other): People Disambiguation of People: 36 27 37
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: Olympic torchbearer

Inflected forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "Olympic torchbearer"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "torch",
        "3": "bearer"
      },
      "expansion": "torch + bearer",
      "name": "compound"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From torch + bearer.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "torchbearers",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "torchbearer (plural torchbearers)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "53 5 42",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "57 7 36",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "58 3 39",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "60 3 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "61 9 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "58 11 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "61 7 32",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ido translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "67 9 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Macedonian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "58 9 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "62 9 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "100 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Fire",
          "orig": "en:Fire",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "36 27 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "en:People",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person who carries a torch (flaming brand)."
      ],
      "id": "en-torchbearer-en-noun-VFgEpNHk",
      "links": [
        [
          "torch",
          "torch"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "lampadephore"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "India",
            "archaic"
          ],
          "word": "mussaul"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "India",
            "archaic"
          ],
          "word": "mussaulchee"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "lang_code": "cmn",
          "roman": "huǒjùshǒu",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "word": "火炬手"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "word": "soihdunkantaja"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "lang_code": "fr",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "porte-flambeau"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "lang_code": "fr",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "porte-torche"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "io",
          "lang": "Ido",
          "lang_code": "io",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "word": "torchiero"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "lang_code": "mk",
          "roman": "faklónosec",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "факло́носец"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "fakelonósec",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "факелоно́сец"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "65 8 27",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "fákelʹščik",
          "sense": "one who carries a torch",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "фа́кельщик"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "36 27 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "en:People",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The leader of a campaign, or one who gives inspiration to others."
      ],
      "id": "en-torchbearer-en-noun-LbbHCizK",
      "links": [
        [
          "leader",
          "leader"
        ],
        [
          "campaign",
          "campaign"
        ],
        [
          "inspiration",
          "inspiration"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(by extension) The leader of a campaign, or one who gives inspiration to others."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "36 27 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "en:People",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              41,
              52
            ]
          ],
          "text": "The Roman Empire could be considered the torchbearer of Ancient Greek knowledge and wisdom.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "One who carries on a movement or organization from someone else."
      ],
      "id": "en-torchbearer-en-noun-ujBsvN2R",
      "links": [
        [
          "carries on",
          "carry on"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) One who carries on a movement or organization from someone else."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "torchbearer"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Ido translations",
    "Terms with Macedonian translations",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "en:Fire",
    "en:People"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "Olympic torchbearer"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "torch",
        "3": "bearer"
      },
      "expansion": "torch + bearer",
      "name": "compound"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From torch + bearer.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "torchbearers",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "torchbearer (plural torchbearers)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A person who carries a torch (flaming brand)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "torch",
          "torch"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "lampadephore"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "India",
            "archaic"
          ],
          "word": "mussaul"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "India",
            "archaic"
          ],
          "word": "mussaulchee"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The leader of a campaign, or one who gives inspiration to others."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "leader",
          "leader"
        ],
        [
          "campaign",
          "campaign"
        ],
        [
          "inspiration",
          "inspiration"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(by extension) The leader of a campaign, or one who gives inspiration to others."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              41,
              52
            ]
          ],
          "text": "The Roman Empire could be considered the torchbearer of Ancient Greek knowledge and wisdom.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "One who carries on a movement or organization from someone else."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "carries on",
          "carry on"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) One who carries on a movement or organization from someone else."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "lang_code": "cmn",
      "roman": "huǒjùshǒu",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "word": "火炬手"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "word": "soihdunkantaja"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "porte-flambeau"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "porte-torche"
    },
    {
      "code": "io",
      "lang": "Ido",
      "lang_code": "io",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "word": "torchiero"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "lang_code": "mk",
      "roman": "faklónosec",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "факло́носец"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "fakelonósec",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "факелоно́сец"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "fákelʹščik",
      "sense": "one who carries a torch",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "фа́кельщик"
    }
  ],
  "word": "torchbearer"
}

Download raw JSONL data for torchbearer meaning in English (3.0kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-10-23 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-10-21 using wiktextract (da1f971 and f26afeb). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.