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• candela
  candela

  noun

  a basic unit of luminous intensity in the International System of Units (SI), formally defined as the luminous intensity of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10 12 hertz and that has a radiant intensity of 1/683 watt/steradian: adopted in 1979 as the international standard of luminous intensity. Cd
• Candela
  Candela

  noun

  Felix. 1910–97, Mexican architect, noted for his naturalistic modern style and thin prestressed concrete roofs

candela

American  

[kan-dee-luh] / kænˈdi lə /

noun

Optics.

1. a basic unit of luminous intensity in the International System of Units (SI), formally defined as the luminous intensity of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10 12 hertz and that has a radiant intensity of 1/683 watt/steradian: adopted in 1979 as the international standard of luminous intensity. Cd

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candela ¹ British  

/ -ˈdeɪlə, kænˈdiːlə /

noun

1. Also called: candle.   standard candle.   cd.  the basic SI unit of luminous intensity; the luminous intensity in a given direction of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10 ¹² hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of ( 1/ 683 ) watt per steradian

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Candela ² British  

/ kænˈdiːlə /

noun

1. Felix. 1910–97, Mexican architect, noted for his naturalistic modern style and thin prestressed concrete roofs

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candela Scientific  

/ kăn-dĕl′ə /

1. The SI unit used to measure the brightness of a source of light (its luminous intensity). By definition, one square centimeter of a blackbody at the freezing point of platinum emits one-sixtieth of a candela of radiation.

2. See Table at measurement See also lumen luminous flux

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Etymology

Origin of candela

1945–50; < Latin: candle

Example Sentences

Twelve of the buildings Wolfe cited in his 1985 list were designed by Rosario Candela; another eight were by J.E.R.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Speaking at the Chato Candela baseball stadium in the working-class 23 de Enero district, Canchica rejected the negative image they have gained.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

Candela launched a ferry in Stockholm this year that uses a hydrofoil system suited for electrification.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2024

“This is a real leap forward,” said Erik Eklund, who is in charge of the commercial vessel division at Candela.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2023

Tim and I followed him, Candela soon afterwards joining us; and we were quickly engaged in the not over-pleasant operation of cutting up the deer and skinning the pumas.

From The Young Llanero A Story of War and Wild Life in Venezuela by Kingston, William Henry Giles