A pilot light is a small gas flame in a cooker, stove, boiler, or fire. It burns all the time and lights the main large flame when the gas is turned fully on.
pilot light in British English
noun
1.
a small auxiliary flame that ignites the main burner of a gas appliance when the control valve opens
2.
a small electric light used as an indicator
pilot light in American English
1.
a small gas burner which is kept burning for use in lighting a main burner when needed
: also pilot burner
2.
pilot lamp
Examples of 'pilot light' in a sentence
pilot light
I ventured into the darkened kitchen, where only the small blue flame of the water heater's pilot light stood out in the dimness.
Pritchard, John NIGHT SISTERS (1988)
He removed the outside plate and examined the pilot light and the eight boiler plates that kept the unit hot.
Scott, Jack A KNIFE BETWEEN THE RIBS (1988)
In other languages
pilot light
British English: pilot light /ˈpaɪlət laɪt/ NOUN
A pilot light is a small gas flame in a cooker, stove, boiler, or fire. It burns all the time and lights the main large flame when the gas is turned fully on.