Put A Light

[macot]

"put a light to the wound"
"put a light to a cigar"

Do they mean:

a) the light (fire) physically touch the wound and the cigar, burning the wound and cigar.
or
b) that the light does not touch the wound and cigar, but is brought close to the wound and cigar to allow them to be seem clearly?

[Raymott]

"put a light to the wound"
"put a light to a cigar"

Do they mean:

a) the light (fire) physically touch the wound and the cigar, burning the wound and cigar.
or
b) that the light does not touch the wound and cigar, but is brought close to the wound and cigar to allow them to be seem clearly?

The meaning would depend on the context. I imagine it would usually be b. for a wound and a. for a cigar.