candle

American  

[kan-dl] / ˈkæn 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 international candle.  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

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verb (used with object)

candles, present (3rd person singular) candled, past participle, past candling present participle

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.

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. burn the / one's candle at both ends. burn.

3. 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.

candle British  

/ 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. to exhaust oneself, esp by being up late and getting up early to work

4. informal to be inferior or contemptible in comparison with

   your dog doesn't hold a candle to mine

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

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verb

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

candle More Idioms  

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• candler
  noun
• uncandled
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have candled
  perfect
• has candled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am candling
  progressive 1st person singular
• is candling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been candling
  perfect progressive
• are candling
  progressive
• has been candling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• candles
  singular 3rd person
• candling
  participle

Past

• had candled
  perfect
• had been candling
  perfect progressive
• was candling
  progressive singular
• were candling
  progressive plural
• candled
  simple
• candled
  participle

Future

• will candle
  simple
• will have candled
  perfect
• will have been candling
  perfect progressive
• will be candling
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of candle

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; see candid

Example Sentences

At the troughs of this structure, there were notable bullish reactions, including a harami in September 2024 and a bullish engulfing candle in April 2025, both of which previously triggered strong upside moves.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

The very round $400 level has also proven difficult to overcome, highlighted by a gravestone doji candle on May 18.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

The current base began forming after a bearish dark cloud cover candle on April 21 and developed shortly after a breakout from a short cup-base pattern.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

“And then my accomplishments — no one can even hold a candle to those.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

Father relit the candle and joined his wife in hunting for the cause of the odd noises.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• torch