kindle

[ kin-dl ]

See synonyms for: kindle kindled kindling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),kin·dled, kin·dling.

to start (a fire); cause (a flame, blaze, etc.) to begin burning.
to set fire to or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter).

to excite; stir up or set going; animate; rouse; inflame: He kindled their hopes of victory.
to light up, illuminate, or make bright: Happiness kindled her eyes.

verb (used without object),kin·dled, kin·dling.

to begin to burn, as combustible matter, a light, fire, or flame.
to become aroused or animated.

to become lighted up, bright, or glowing, as the sky at dawn or the eyes with ardor.

Origin of kindle

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English kindlen, from Old Norse kynda (compare Old Norse kindill “torch, candle”) + -le

synonym study For kindle

1-3. Kindle, ignite, inflame literally mean to set something on fire. To kindle is to cause something gradually to begin burning; it is often used figuratively: to kindle logs; to kindle someone's interest. To ignite is to set something on fire with a sudden burst of flame; it too is often used figuratively: to ignite straw; to ignite dangerous hatreds. Inflame is most often used figuratively, meaning to intensify, excite, or rouse: to inflame passions.

Other words for kindle

1	fire, light
3	arouse, awaken, bestir, incite, stimulate, fire up

See synonyms for kindle on Thesaurus.com

Other words from kindle

kindler, noun

Words Nearby kindle

Other definitions for kindle (2 of 2)

kindle²

[ kin-dl ]

verb (used with object),kin·dled, kin·dling.

(of animals, especially rabbits) to bear (young); produce (offspring).

verb (used without object),kin·dled, kin·dling.

(of animals, especially rabbits) to give birth, as to a litter.

noun

a litter of kittens, rabbits, etc.

Origin of kindle

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English kindelen, verb use of kindel “offspring, young,” equivalent to kind- (Old English gecynd “offspring”) + -el; see -le, kind²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use kindle in a sentence

Carlsen did try to strike, sacrificing a pawn earlier to kindle a nascent attack, led by his pair of bishops.
The World Chess Championship Opens With An Endless Knight-Rook Dance | Oliver Roeder | November 26, 2021 | FiveThirtyEight
That was the day I understood you could choose to kindle a crush.
Why We Need More Climate Change Love Stories | lwhelan | October 8, 2021 | Outside Online
Everyone I talked to agrees that losing the spark that once kindled enjoyable sex is a real and distressing problem.
The tangled and messy science of medicating female sex drives | Purbita Saha | August 17, 2021 | Popular-Science
At the same time, the movements, true leadership, and solutions rising may kindle hope, courage, yearning, zeal.
The Climate Crisis Is a Call to Action. These 5 Steps Helped Me Figure Out How to Be of Use | Katharine Wilkinson | July 19, 2021 | Time
The trauma of 2020 has kindled unparalleled disruptions in art, politics and social activism — not to mention science and health, which have been tested like never before.
25 Rising Stars to Track in 2021 | Daniel Malloy | December 20, 2020 | Ozy

There will be an issue of the New York Times and magazines, an iPhone and kindle, metro cards and subway maintenance signs.
New York’s Century-Old Time Capsule Is a Dud | Justin Jones | October 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
You can download the kindle App for free on your desktop or laptop computer, smart phone or tablet.
The Stacks: The Day ‘The Big Lebowski’ Came to Life | Alex Belth | July 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Mostly now on kindle, because it's so much easier to read more than one book at the same time.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Literary Lagos | Henry Krempels | March 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If you want to kindle the memories of the war, you will find such reminders everywhere—even in the unlikeliest of places.
Going Back to Vietnam Is Sometimes Amusing, Often Fraught, and Always Surreal | Jeff Greenfield | March 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
They then kindle fire, ground corn, prepare dinner and lunch for the next day.
The ‘12 Years a Slave’ Book Shows Slavery As Even More Appalling Than In the Film | Jimmy So | October 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the strong holds of Benadad.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
Divine odours breathe from the body, which shines like gold amid the flames that refuse to kindle upon it.
The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry Withrow
Try to get her warm by covering her with care, and drawing her bed near the large fire which you must kindle immediately.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence | Eugne Sue
May we be of those who have worshipped Agni with the gift of offerings, who cause him to thrive and kindle him.
Sacred Books of the East | Various
We the manly ones will kindle thee the manly god, O manly Agni, who shinest mightily.
Sacred Books of the East | Various

British Dictionary definitions for kindle (1 of 2)

kindle

/ (ˈkɪndəl) /

verb

to set alight or start to burn
to arouse or be aroused: the project kindled his interest

to make or become bright

Origin of kindle

C12: from Old Norse kynda, influenced by Old Norse kyndill candle

Derived forms of kindle

kindler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Kindle (2 of 2)

Kindle

/ (ˈkɪndəl) /

noun

trademark a portable electronic device for downloading and reading books

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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