candle

[ kan-dl ]
/ ˈkæn dl /

noun

a long, usually slender piece of tallow or wax with an embedded wick that is burned to give light.
something resembling a candle in appearance or use.
Optics.
  1. (formerly) candela.
  2. Also called international candle. a unit of luminous intensity, defined as a fraction of the luminous intensity of a group of 45 carbon-filament lamps: used from 1909 to 1948 as the international standard.
  3. a unit of luminous intensity, equal to the luminous intensity of a wax candle of standard specifications: used prior to 1909 as the international standard. Abbreviation: c., c

verb (used with object), can·dled, can·dling.

to examine (eggs) for freshness, fertility, etc., by holding them up to a bright light.
to hold (a bottle of wine) in front of a lighted candle while decanting so as to detect sediment and prevent its being poured off with the wine.

Idioms for candle

Origin of candle

before 900; Middle English, Old English candel < Latin candēla, equivalent to cand(ēre) to shine + -ēla deverbal noun suffix; see candid

OTHER WORDS FROM candle

can·dler, noun un·can·dled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for candle

British Dictionary definitions for candle

candle
/ (ˈkændəl) /

noun

a cylindrical piece of wax, tallow, or other fatty substance surrounding a wick, which is burned to produce light
physics
  1. See international candle
  2. another name for candela
burn the candle at both ends to exhaust oneself, esp by being up late and getting up early to work
not hold a candle to informal to be inferior or contemptible in comparison with your dog doesn't hold a candle to mine
not worth the candle informal not worth the price or trouble entailed (esp in the phrase the game's not worth the candle)

verb

(tr) to examine (eggs) for freshness or the likelihood of being hatched by viewing them against a bright light

Derived forms of candle

candler, noun

Word Origin for candle

Old English candel, from Latin candēla, from candēre to be white, glitter

Medical definitions for candle

candle
[ kăndl ]

n.

candela

Idioms and Phrases with candle

candle

see burn the candle at both ends; game is not worth the candle; hold a candle to.