kindling

noun

kin·dling | \ ˈkin(d)-liŋ

, ˈkin-lən\

Definition of kindling

: easily combustible material for starting a fire

Examples of kindling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hold the kindling in place using a scrap of wood with a roofing nail driven through its end. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "15 Things to Do Around the House Before the Holidays," 16 Nov. 2018 Hold the kindling in place using a scrap of wood with a roofing nail driven through its end. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "15 Things to Do Around the House Before the Holidays," 16 Nov. 2018 But, for me, nothing about a fire is ever consistent—not the tinder or kindling or logs. — Ross Mccammon, Popular Mechanics, "How to Build the Perfect Fireplace Fire," 30 Nov. 2018 Put it beneath some kindling, and light the whole thing. — Nick Meyers, Popular Mechanics, "10 Things This Man Will Be Carrying When He Rescues You From an Avalanche," 3 Mar. 2015 In Davie a few of the Rolling Hills sets were turned into kindling and the first floor of the motel where production offices were set up had been flooded, leaving a plague of earthworms wriggling in the carpets. — Chris Nashawaty, SI.com, "Inside the Caddyshack Scene That Squashed the Bill Murray-Chevy Chase Beef," 17 Apr. 2018 In drawing, those imperfect drawings make good kindling. — Donna Vickroy, Daily Southtown, "Not your parents' retirement: Local seniors find new adventures, passions and a second wind," 2 Mar. 2018 Economic and social factors may have contributed to the kindling — but the explosion in the supply of opioids was a flamethrower. — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Did Americans Turn to Opioids Out of Despair – or Just Because They Were There?," 15 Jan. 2018 And its international policies light the kindling of resistance overseas, from Australia to Ghana. — Edward Wong, New York Times, "A Chinese Empire Reborn," 5 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kindling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

1 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for kindling

The first known use of kindling was circa 1522

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More Definitions for kindling

kindling

noun

English Language Learners Definition of kindling

: dry twigs, pieces of paper, etc., that burn easily and are used to start a fire

See the full definition for kindling in the English Language Learners Dictionary

kindling

noun

kin·dling | \ ˈkind-liŋ

Kids Definition of kindling

: material that burns easily and is used for starting a fire

kindling

noun

kind·ling | \ ˈkin-dliŋ

Medical Definition of kindling

: the electrophysiological changes that occur in the brain as a result of repeated intermittent exposure to a subthreshold electrical or chemical stimulus (as one causing seizures) so that there develops a usually permanent decrease in the threshold of excitability