candle

1 of 2

noun

can·​dle ˈkan-dᵊl 

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

: candela

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, 

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 

ˈkan-dᵊl-ər

noun

Examples of candle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These ten compositions depend on lights in darkness, most commonly generated by candles, by the moon, or—as in the most famous painting here, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (circa 1767)—by both. —Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026

Light a red, purple, gold, or black candle. —Glamour, 25 Apr. 2026

Think sprinkles on a Tuesday morning coffee and a vibrant candle lit for no occasion. —Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

After Freud’s death, Bernays went back to the synagogue and back to lighting candles on the Sabbath. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English candel, going back to Old English, borrowed from Latin candēla "tallow candle," from candēre "to shine, be white, gleam" + -la, noun suffix — more at candid entry 1

Verb

derivative of candle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1879, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing candle

• burn the candle at both ends
• foot-candle
• hold a candle to
• not worth the candle
• Roman candle
• rush candle
• standard candle
• tealight candle
• votive candle

Rhymes for candle

• handle
• sandal
• scandal
• vandal
• panhandle

Kids Definition

candle

1 of 2 noun

can·​dle ˈkan-dᵊl 

1

: a mass of tallow or wax containing a wick that is burned to give light

2

: candela

candle

2 of 2 verb

candled; candling ˈkan-dliŋ 

-dᵊl-iŋ

: to examine an egg by holding it between the eye and a light

candler

-dlər 

-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 

1

: a medicated candle or lozenge used for fumigation

2

: candela