kindled; kindling
ˈkin(d)-liŋ 
ˈkin-dᵊl-iŋ
1
: to start (a fire) burning : light
using dry twigs to kindle a fire
3
: to cause to glow : illuminate
animation kindling his pale face—
A. J. Cronin
A. J. Cronin1
: to catch fire : begin to burn
waiting for the fire to kindle
2
a
: to flare up
… their mutual resentment again kindled …—Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon
b
: to become animated
no boy will fail to kindle to the struggles of his California youth—Ethna Sheehan
Ethna Sheehan3
: to become illuminated
light kindled in the liquor—Frances G. Patton
Frances G. Patton
kindled; kindling
: bear sense 3a
—used especially of a rabbit
: to bring forth young
—used especially of a rabbit
Examples of kindle in a Sentence
Verb (1)
worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-stricken nature preserve
Recent Examples on the Web
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
Everything in the store is kindling, and the metal shelving hems in what’s becoming a human fire-pit.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 June 2025
If the Golden State can’t find ways to move more quickly toward climate-friendly energy, then the oppressively hot, dry conditions that kindle deadly fires will almost certainly keep getting worse.
Bringing down electric rates, meanwhile, is crucial to climate progress.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindle
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Verb
These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
Everything in the store is kindling, and the metal shelving hems in what’s becoming a human fire-pit.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 June 2025
If the Golden State can’t find ways to move more quickly toward climate-friendly energy, then the oppressively hot, dry conditions that kindle deadly fires will almost certainly keep getting worse.
Bringing down electric rates, meanwhile, is crucial to climate progress.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindle
Cite this Entry
“Kindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kindle. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
kindle
intransitive verb
kin·dle
ˈkin-dᵊl
kindled; kindling
: to bring forth young
—used chiefly of a rabbit
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