menorah
Americannoun
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a candelabrum having seven branches (as used in the Biblical tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem), or any number of branches (as used in modern synagogues).
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a candelabrum having nine branches, for use on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
noun
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a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple and now an emblem of Judaism and the badge of the state of Israel
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a candelabrum having eight branches and a shammes that is lit during the festival of Hanukkah
Etymology
Origin of menorah
First recorded in 1885–90, menorah is from the Hebrew word mənōrāh literally, lampstand
Explanation
A menorah is a special candleholder for seven or nine candles. Nine-branched menorahs are used during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that falls in the late fall or winter and lasts for eight days and nights. A menorah is an important part of celebrating Hanukkah, also known as "the festival of lights." A seven-branched menorah, which did not use candles but instead had seven oil lamps, is described in the Hebrew Bible. The word menorah comes from a Semitic root meaning "to shine."
Vocabulary lists containing menorah
It's Lit: Hanukkah Words
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"The Diary of Anne Frank," Vocabulary from the drama
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Watch Us Rise
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The event ended with the lighting of the menorah - something the crowds gathered for Hannukah last week couldn't do.
From BBC • Dec. 21, 2025
As a song—“Just a Little Bit of Light”—plays, he lifts a large menorah from his car, fastens it onto the roof, lights it, and dances beside it, out in the street.
From Slate • Dec. 19, 2025
But beyond that, the reports are like Christmas trees, or candles on a menorah.
From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025
Instagram’s @ChallahPrince, this year have collaborated on an illustrated recipe for making a challah menorah — a full-circle moment as Rebecca is seen in “The Weinerville Chanukah Special’s” closing montage showing her own environmentally-conscious “Recyclorah.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
The first graders cut out the flames for each of the nine candles, and together they put a menorah on every classroom door.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
