menorah

American  

[muh-nawr-uh, -nohr-uh] / məˈnɔr ə, -ˈnoʊr ə /

noun

1. a candelabrum having seven branches (as used in the Biblical tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem), or any number of branches (as used in modern synagogues).

2. a candelabrum having nine branches, for use on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

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menorah British  

/ məˈnɑʊrɔ, mɪˈnɔːrə /

noun

1. a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple and now an emblem of Judaism and the badge of the state of Israel

2. a candelabrum having eight branches and a shammes that is lit during the festival of Hanukkah

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menorah Cultural  

1. A nine-branched candelabrum used during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The center candle, or “starter,” is used to light the other eight candles, with one additional candle lit on each subsequent evening of the celebration.

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Etymology

Origin of menorah

First recorded in 1885–90, menorah is from the Hebrew word mənōrāh literally, lampstand

Example Sentences

As a song—“Just a Little Bit of Light”—plays, he lifts a large menorah from his car, fastens it onto the roof, lights it, and dances beside it, out in the street.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2025

But beyond that, the reports are like Christmas trees, or candles on a menorah.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

It ends with a big Halloween party and a fast punk rock song about all the different ways to make a menorah that channels Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

As 18:47 neared - the time of the attack the day before - a group of local Jewish leaders stepped forward with a large menorah with candles.

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2025

She took down the aluminum-foil menorah the first graders had put on her door, and she wouldn’t let any of Charles’s signs into the room.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt

Related Words

• candelabra
• sconce