A candle is a stick of hard wax with a piece of string called a wick through the middle. You light the wick in order to give a steady flame that provides light.
The bedroom was lit by a single candle.
2.
See to burn the candle at both ends
3.
See can't hold a candle to
4.
See the game is not worth the candle
candle in British English
(ˈkændəl)
noun
1.
a cylindrical piece of wax, tallow, or other fatty substance surrounding a wick, which is burned to produce light
2. physics
a. international candle
b. another name for candela
3. burn the candle at both ends
4. not hold a candle to
5. not worth the candle
verb
6. (transitive)
to examine (eggs) for freshness or the likelihood of being hatched by viewing them against a bright light
Derived forms
candler (ˈcandler)
noun
Word origin
Old English candel, from Latin candēla, from candēre to be white, glitter
candle in American English
(ˈkændəl)
noun
1.
a cylindrical mass of tallow or wax with a wick through its center, which gives light when burned
2.
anything like a candle in form or use
3.
a. Obsolete
candela
b.
until 1940, a standard unit of luminous intensity equal to a certain fraction of the candle power of a group of 45 carbon-filament lamps kept at the National Bureau of Standards; international candle
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcandled or ˈcandling
4.
to examine (eggs) for freshness, fertilization, etc. by placing in front of a light, originally that of a candle
Idioms:
burn the candle at both ends
not hold a candle to
(a game) not worth the candle
Derived forms
candler (ˈcandler)
noun
Word origin
ME & OE candel < L candela, a light, torch < candere: see candescent
More idioms containing
candle
someone can't hold a candle to someone
not worth the candle
burn the candle at both ends
Examples of 'candle' in a sentence
candle
There were lighted candles all down the polished table.
Diana Wynne Jones CHARMED LIFE (1977)
There were flowers and candles and we talked nonstop.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Peter was lighting the candle end with a hand that trembled.
E. Nesbit The Railway Children (1906)
Better to light one candle than blame the darkness.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You have no intention of taking a rest but do not burn the candle at both ends.
The Sun (2015)
Church candles and hurricane lamps are tasteful but bland.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The candles were flickering in their sockets.
Elizabeth Gaskell North and South (1855)
There will be no birthday cake and not a single candle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Running a candle flame up and down a twisted piece of dry hair.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The flesh was the colour of candle wax.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Three teams battled it out in a relay race while holding birthday candles.
The Sun (2010)
The memorial of flowers and candles on the pavement outside continues to grow.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It was wonder that some of them also to burn the candle at both ends.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Light one large candle and put it somewhere in the middle of the room where your group is meeting.
Christianity Today (2000)
Only a lighted candle provides a reminder of its earlier, more urgent purpose.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Let's hope the ladies bake one of their splendid cakes and stick some candles on the top.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
My first instinct was that i had to pray, light candles and then get to bed as soon as possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I had lighted the candle, to give the room a cheerful appearance against her return.
Elizabeth Gaskell Cranford (1853)
In other languages
candle
British English: candle /ˈkændl/ NOUN
A candle is a stick of hard wax with a piece of string called a wick through the middle. You light the wick so the candle produces light.
The bedroom was lit by a single candle.
American English: candle
Arabic: شَمْعَة
Brazilian Portuguese: vela
Chinese: 蜡烛
Croatian: svijeća
Czech: svíčka
Danish: stearinlys
Dutch: kaars
European Spanish: vela alumbrar
Finnish: kynttilä
French: bougie de cire
German: Kerze
Greek: κερί
Italian: candela
Japanese: ろうそく
Korean: 양초
Norwegian: stearinlys
Polish: świeca
European Portuguese: vela
Romanian: lumânare
Russian: свеча
Latin American Spanish: vela cirio
Swedish: stearinljus
Thai: เทียน
Turkish: mum
Ukrainian: свічка
Vietnamese: nến
All related terms of 'candle'
candle-foot
→ foot-candle
candle-tree
a shrub , Myrica cerifera, of SE North America, having evergreen leaves and a small berry-like fruit with a waxy coating : family Myricaceae
foot-candle
a former unit of illumination , equal to one lumen per square foot or 10.764 lux
new candle
→ candela
rush candle
a candle made with the pith of a rush as the wick
candle grease
the wax which is used in the manufacture of candles
Roman candle
a firework that produces a continuous shower of sparks punctuated by coloured balls of fire
tallow candle
a candle made from tallow
votive candle
a small white candle that was originally burnt as a votive offering in church
standard candle
a unit of luminous intensity ; the candela : not in scientific usage because of possible confusion with a former unit (international candle )
international candle
a former international unit of luminous intensity , originally defined in terms of a standard candle and later in terms of a pentane-burning lamp . It has now been replaced by the candela
candlelit
A candlelit room or table is lit by the light of candles.
not worth the candle
not worth the trouble or effort that is needed in order to succeed
bell, book, and candle
instruments used formerly in excommunications and other ecclesiastical acts
can't hold a candle to
If you say that one person or thing can't hold a candle to another, you meant that the first person or thing is not nearly as good as the second .
not hold a candle to
to be inferior or contemptible in comparison with
snuffer
a cone-shaped implement for extinguishing candles
(a game) not worth the candle
(a game) with stakes not sufficient to pay for the lights
burn the candle at both ends
to try to do too much, by regularly going to bed very late and getting up early in the morning
the game is not worth the candle
If you say that the game is not worth the candle , you mean that something is not worth the trouble or effort needed to achieve or obtain it.
to burn the candle at both ends
If you burn the candle at both ends , you try to do too many things in too short a period of time so that you have to stay up very late at night and get up very early in the morning to get them done.
someone can't hold a candle to someone
said to mean that the first person mentioned is not in any way as good as the second
Chinese translation of 'candle'
candle
(ˈkændl)
n(c)
蜡(蠟)烛(燭) (làzhú) (根, gēn)
to burn the candle at both ends操劳(勞)过(過)度 (cāoláo guòdù)
he can't hold a candle to you他比不上你 (tā bǐbushàng nǐ)