candle

1 of 2

noun

can·​dle ˈkan-dᵊl How to pronounce candle (audio)
plural candles
1
: a usually molded or dipped mass of wax or tallow containing a wick that may be burned (as to give light, heat, or scent or for celebration or votive purposes)
2
: something resembling a candle in shape or use
a sulfur candle for fumigating
3
: required effort, expense, or trouble
usually used in the phrase not worth the candle
4
5
: a thin, upright new shoot forming from a terminal bud on a pine tree in the spring
Pines grow from the branch tips, which elongate into "candles" in spring, then fatten into mature, needle-covered branches. To minimize pine growth, just pinch off the ends of the candles.Jim McCausland et al.

candle

2 of 2

verb

candled; candling ˈkan(d)-liŋ How to pronounce candle (audio)
ˈkan-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

: to examine by holding between the eye and a light
especially : to test (eggs) in this way for staleness, blood clots, fertility, and growth
candler
ˈkan(d)-lər How to pronounce candle (audio)
ˈkan-dᵊl-ər
noun

Examples of candle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Meet Me in the Dirt sells an array of houseplants and self-care products such as candles, body oils and bath salts that Lawson makes herself. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Thousands of people gathered to dance and dodge amid the bulls as roman candles and bottle rockets showered them with sparks, and spinners nipped at their legs. Fernanda Pesce and Alexis Triboulard, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 Something familiar to Nicolas Ghesquière, who blew out his 10th candle as the head of Louis Vuitton — marking a decade of a fashion both futuristic and steeped in ancestral savoir-faire, as ubiquitous as its monogram. Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 The beloved bakery sold its last cake a few days ago, and its party supply merchandise — from candles to cake knives — was put on a half-off liquidation sale. Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Next came the feast, as everyone took their places at one of two long tables decked with elegant candles, polaroid portraits, and custom stickers. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024 The candle is made from coconut wax and hand-poured in the USA. Tim Chan, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Over the next four hours, Simpson beat his wife with a mason jar and candle, punched and kicked her, strangled her and held a knife to her side and neck while accusing the woman of having an affair, according to trial testimony. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 4 Mar. 2024 Find a small tray that fits the length and width of your toilet tank, then use it to hold a candle, room spray, or extra toilet paper for a quick restock. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Buy Now: liis reyes candle $65 Homesick Barbie Dreamhouse Candle Transform your home into Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse with this adorable candle from Homesick. Anna Tingley, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 Add a beautiful vase or even candle to make it look considered. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024 Thousands of shoppers have given the Sparkling Cinnamon candle a perfect rating. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 16 Dec. 2023 In addition to the everyday dust, food smells, and candle smoke from both rooms, my cat Ginny also loves to lounge in that area, which means fur and dander are inevitable. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 30 July 2023 Duxiana candle $80 Lumen Metabolism Tracker This device measures the CO2 concentration in the breath to determine if the body is burning more fat or carbs on a scale of 1-5. People Staff, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2023 Learn proper siting and planting practices, observe techniques for candling pines to control size and review general care of dwarf conifers. Corey Sheldon | , oregonlive, 12 May 2023 The good news is, there’s an alternative: candle warmer lamps. Alanna Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2023 According to an alert from the Food and Drug Administration, there is no evidence that ear candling is effective. Madeleine Burry, Health, 3 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'candle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English candel, from Old English, from Latin candela, from candēre

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of candle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near candle

Cite this Entry

“Candle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

candle

1 of 2 noun
can·​dle ˈkan-dᵊl How to pronounce candle (audio)
1
: a mass of tallow or wax containing a wick that is burned to give light
2

candle

2 of 2 verb
candled; candling ˈkan-dliŋ How to pronounce candle (audio)
-dᵊl-iŋ
: to examine an egg by holding it between the eye and a light
candler
-dlər How to pronounce candle (audio)
-dᵊl-ər
noun
Etymology

Noun

Old English candel "candle," from Latin candela "candle," from candēre "to shine, be bright" — related to candid, candidate see Word History at candidate

Medical Definition

candle

noun
can·​dle ˈkan-dᵊl How to pronounce candle (audio)
1
: a medicated candle or lozenge used for fumigation
2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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