tinder

[ tin-der ]
/ ˈtɪn dər /

noun

a highly flammable material or preparation formerly used for catching the spark from a flint and steel struck together for fire or light.
any dry substance that readily takes fire from a spark.

Origin of tinder

before 900; Middle English; Old English tynder; akin to German Zunder, Old Norse tundr, Old English -tendan (as in ātendan to set on fire), Gothic tundnan to catch fire, German -zünden in entzünden to kindle

Words nearby tinder

Example sentences from the Web for tinder

British Dictionary definitions for tinder

tinder
/ (ˈtɪndə) /

noun

dry wood or other easily combustible material used for lighting a fire
anything inflammatory or dangerous his speech was tinder to the demonstrators' unrest

Derived forms of tinder

tindery, adjective

Word Origin for tinder

Old English tynder; related to Old Norse tundr, Old High German zuntara