kindling

[ kind-ling ]

/ ˈkɪnd lɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR kindling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

material that can be readily ignited, used in starting a fire.

the act of one who kindles.

Nearby words

kindjal, kindle, kindless, kindlessly, kindliness, kindling, kindly, kindness, kindred, kindred spirit, kindu

Origin of kindling

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at kindle¹, -ing¹

Related formsun·kin·dling, adjective

Definition for kindling (2 of 3)

kindle

[ kin-dl ]

/ ˈkɪn dl /

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

1150–1200; Middle English kindlen < Old Norse kynda; compare Old Norse kindill torch, candle

SYNONYMS FOR kindle

1–3 fire, light.

3 arouse, awaken, bestir, incite, stimulate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR kindle ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formskin·dler, noun

Synonym study

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.

Definition for kindling (3 of 3)

kindle

[ kin-dl ]

/ ˈkɪn 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

1175–1225; Middle English kindelen, v. use of kindel offspring, young, equivalent to kind- (Old English gecynd offspring; see kind²) + -el -le

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for kindling

Hiller opens a barrel, lifts out wood particles and pieces of kindling, and lets them run through his fingers.
Brooklyn’s Booming Firewood Industry|Dale Eisinger|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is a slightly built New Englander, in tie and shirtsleeves, whose sense of humor is about as dry and incendiary as kindling.
Joe McQuaid: Union Leader Publisher Is GOP Kingmaker in New Hampshire|Lloyd Grove|December 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
His riff toward the end when he bragged about winning three times in a blue state just might have been the kindling.
How Santorum Would Destroy America|Michael Tomasky|October 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The new health care ads are designed to jack up sentiments to the kindling point.
The Scariest Health Care Ads|Adam Hanft|August 15, 2009|DAILY BEAST

When he wakened again daylight was at hand, and Mr. Dopples was kindling a fire.
Ralph Granger's Fortunes|William Perry Brown
But the blood of the four was kindling, and they had vengeance instead of sport to seek.
The Path of the King|John Buchan
This great military array extinguished at once the kindling elements of a civil war, "by making resistance desperate."
The Student's Life of Washington; Condensed from the Larger Work of Washington Irving|Washington Irving
Have kindling wood at hand also, so that a fire may be quickly made, if needed.
Housekeeping in Old Virginia|Marion Cabell Tyree
She plucked at the fringe of her shawl, and Colonel Ferrers waited, though with a kindling eye.
Hildegarde's Home|Laura E. Richards

British Dictionary definitions for kindling (1 of 3)

kindling

/ (ˈkɪndlɪŋ) /

noun

material for starting a fire, such as dry wood, straw, etc

British Dictionary definitions for kindling (2 of 3)

kindle

/ (ˈkɪndəl) /

verb

to set alight or start to burn

to arouse or be arousedthe project kindled his interest

to make or become bright

Derived Formskindler, noun

Word Origin for kindle

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

British Dictionary definitions for kindling (3 of 3)

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

Word Origin and History for kindling (1 of 2)

kindling

"material for lighting fire," 1510s, from present participle of kindle (v.). Earlier "a setting alight" (c.1300).

Word Origin and History for kindling (1 of 2)

kindle

c.1200, cundel, "to set fire to, to start on fire," probably from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse kynda "to kindle, to light a fire," Swedish quindla "kindle," of uncertain origin, + frequentative suffix -le. Figurative use from c.1300. Intransitive sense "to begin to burn, to catch fire" is from c.1400. Related: Kindled; kindling.

Influenced in form, and sometimes in Middle English in sense, with kindel "to give birth" (of animals), "bring forth, produce" (c.1200), from kindel (n.) "offspring of an animal, young one," from Old English gecynd (see kind (n.)) + -el.

kindling

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of kindling

Definition for kindling (2 of 3)

kindle

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

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

Origin of kindle

Synonym study

Definition for kindling (3 of 3)

kindle

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

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

noun

Origin of kindle

Examples from the Web for kindling

British Dictionary definitions for kindling (1 of 3)

kindling

noun

British Dictionary definitions for kindling (2 of 3)

kindle

verb

Word Origin for kindle

British Dictionary definitions for kindling (3 of 3)

Kindle

noun

Word Origin and History for kindling (1 of 2)

kindling

Word Origin and History for kindling (1 of 2)

kindle