candle

[ kan-dl ]

noun

1. a long, usually slender piece of tallow or wax with an embedded wick that is burned to give light.
2. something resembling a candle in appearance or use.
3. Optics.
   1. (formerly) candela.
   2. Also called in·ter·na·tion·al can·dle [in, -ter-nash-, uh, -nl , kan, -dl, -nash-nl]. 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. : c., c

verb (used with object)

, can·dled, can·dling.

1. to examine (eggs) for freshness, fertility, etc., by holding them up to a bright light.
2. 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.

candle

/ ˈkændəl /

noun

1. a cylindrical piece of wax, tallow, or other fatty substance surrounding a wick, which is burned to produce light
2. physics
   1. See international candle
   2. another name for candela
3. burn the candle at both ends
   to exhaust oneself, esp by being up late and getting up early to work
4. not hold a candle to informal.
   to be inferior or contemptible in comparison with

   your dog doesn't hold a candle to mine

5. not worth the candle informal.
   not worth the price or trouble entailed (esp in the phrase the game's not worth the candle )

verb

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

Derived Forms

• ˈcandler, noun

Other Words From

• can·dler noun
• un·can·dled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of candle¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English candel, candle, condel, Old English candel, condel, from Latin candēla, equivalent to cand(ēre) “to shine, gleam white” + -ēla noun suffix; candid

Word History and Origins

Origin of candle¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hold a candle to, to compare favorably with (usually used in the negative):

   She's smart, but she can't hold a candle to her sister.

2. worth the candle, worth the trouble or effort involved (usually used in the negative):

   Trying to win them over to your viewpoint is not worth the candle.

3. burn the / one's candle at both ends. burn ¹( def 56 ).

More idioms and phrases containing candle

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

Example Sentences

The 12th century stone brick church was decorated with white roses and candles.

From Los Angeles Times

Murray adds that he didn’t know how to say “no” in a healthy way and that he was burning the candle at both ends.

From Los Angeles Times

A crowd of residents had also gathered to light candles to remember the dead, and videos shared on social media showed lines of volunteers at hospitals offering to donate blood.

From BBC

Although I’ve softened my stance on gifting candles somewhat, I’m still not quick to recommend one to take up the space in a stocking.

From Los Angeles Times

“We light candles, we break out the rosary and we watch.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• torch