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

“CoComelon” producer Moonbug Entertainment declined to share financial results for the franchise, but parent company Candle Media said Moonbug was the biggest and most profitable piece of its business, which also includes actor Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine production company.

From Los Angeles Times

A year later, Moonbug was acquired by Candle Media, led by ex-Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, for a reported $3 billion.

From Los Angeles Times

But “CoComelon” does have about a 50% co-watching rate with adults, said Staggs of Candle Media.

From Los Angeles Times

Last year’s dual Hollywood strikes and the upheaval in the industry has touched nearly every company in the industry, including Candle Media, which is backed by Blackstone.

From Los Angeles Times

“Candle Media has come through a very difficult time, as the rest of the industry has ... but as a whole, we’re profitable,” Mayer said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• torch