candle

[ kan-dl ]

noun

1. a long, usually slender piece of tallow or wax with an embedded wick that is burned to give light.
2. something resembling a candle in appearance or use.
3. Optics.
   1. (formerly) candela.
   2. Also called in·ter·na·tion·al can·dle [in, -ter-nash-, uh, -nl , kan, -dl, -nash-nl]. a unit of luminous intensity, defined as a fraction of the luminous intensity of a group of 45 carbon-filament lamps: used from 1909 to 1948 as the international standard.
   3. a unit of luminous intensity, equal to the luminous intensity of a wax candle of standard specifications: used prior to 1909 as the international standard. : c., c

verb (used with object)

, can·dled, can·dling.

1. to examine (eggs) for freshness, fertility, etc., by holding them up to a bright light.
2. to hold (a bottle of wine) in front of a lighted candle while decanting so as to detect sediment and prevent its being poured off with the wine.

candle

/ ˈkændəl /

noun

1. a cylindrical piece of wax, tallow, or other fatty substance surrounding a wick, which is burned to produce light
2. physics
   1. See international candle
   2. another name for candela
3. burn the candle at both ends
   burn the candle at both ends to exhaust oneself, esp by being up late and getting up early to work
4. not hold a candle to informal.
   not hold a candle to to be inferior or contemptible in comparison with

   your dog doesn't hold a candle to mine

5. not worth the candle informal.
   not worth the candle not worth the price or trouble entailed (esp in the phrase the game's not worth the candle )

verb

1. tr to examine (eggs) for freshness or the likelihood of being hatched by viewing them against a bright light

Derived Forms

• ˈcandler, noun

Other Words From

• can·dler noun
• un·can·dled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of candle¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English candel, candle, condel, Old English candel, condel, from Latin candēla, equivalent to cand(ēre) “to shine, gleam white” + -ēla noun suffix; candid

Word History and Origins

Origin of candle¹

Old English candel, from Latin candēla, from candēre to be white, glitter

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hold a candle to, to compare favorably with (usually used in the negative):

   She's smart, but she can't hold a candle to her sister.

2. worth the candle, worth the trouble or effort involved (usually used in the negative):

   Trying to win them over to your viewpoint is not worth the candle.

3. burn the / one's candle at both ends. burn ¹( def 56 ).

More idioms and phrases containing candle

see burn the candle at both ends ; game is not worth the candle ; hold a candle to .

Example Sentences

At Celeste, they’ve put out candles and heaters on the outdoor patio, but as it gets colder, it’s likely diners are just going to have to move inside, where the restaurant has expanded into an upstairs space for better distancing.

From Eater

Customers started messaging Otherland’s Instagram account, asking the company if it still had any holiday-scented candles left.

From Digiday

When someone gives you a scented candle, you will think of that person each time you light it.

From Popular-Science

This is a top-quality variety pack of calming and relaxing scented candles.

From Popular-Science

Here are some of our favorite scented candles available today.

From Popular-Science

Yeah, the “Giant man-puppy” that is Gronkowski won't hold a sexual candle to the blue-eyed dreamboat.

From The Daily Beast

Unlike the Soviet Union at a certain period in history, the Russian economy does not hold a candle to that of the United States.

From The Daily Beast

Alastair Sim had jowls like melting candle wax, a snarl like a cornered cat and eyes cold with contempt.

From The Daily Beast

This candle may just be the perfect stocking stuffer or gift for a dear friend.

From The Daily Beast

And she said, “No, you are on fire,” and my arm had caught on fire from a candle on this mantelpiece.

From The Daily Beast

The faint candle-light glimmered on a ponderous gilded cornice, which had also sustained violence.

From Project Gutenberg

Groping to the chimney-place with the aid of his matches, Mr. Collingwood found the candle and lit it.

From Project Gutenberg

In a niche in the mud wall was a cheap print of the Madonna, one candle just smouldering out before it.

From Project Gutenberg

"I am not Lady Macbeth," said Isabel, with a tremor in her own voice, as she entered and blew out the candle.

From Project Gutenberg

You may burn a candle, said the Jew, putting one upon the table; and heres a book for you to read till they come to fetch you.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• torch