What does "candle" mean?
A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.
Candle
/ˈkændl̩/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.
- Grammar: candle is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: taper, wax light, agnus dei, ark.
- Useful contrasts: candela, darken, dim.
- Usage evidence: Put out the candle. The blackout is over.
How to use "candle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "candle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "candle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "candle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "candle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "candle" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "taper" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "candle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.
"light a candle"
- 2 stick of wax with a wick in the middle wordnet
- 3 The protruding, removable portion of a filter, particularly a water filter.
- 4 the basic unit of luminous intensity adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites; equal to 1/60 of the luminous intensity per square centimeter of a black body radiating at the temperature of 2,046 degrees Kelvin wordnet
- 5 A unit of luminous intensity, now replaced by the SI unit candela. obsolete
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A fast-growing, light-colored, upward-growing shoot on a pine tree in the spring. As growth slows in summer, the shoot darkens and is no longer conspicuous.
- 7 Indicates how high or low church something is by height on the candle. idiomatic
"That vicar used to be an evangelical, but she's crept up the candle in recent years."
Verb
- 1 To observe the growth of an embryo inside (an egg), using a bright light source. transitive
- 2 examine eggs for freshness by holding them against a light wordnet
- 3 To dry (greenware) prior to the firing cycle, setting the kiln at 200° Celsius until all water is removed from the greenware. transitive
- 4 To check (an item, such as an envelope) by holding it between a light source and the eye. transitive
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Put out the candle. The blackout is over."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "candle"?
Common synonyms include: taper, wax light, agnus dei, ark, asa scale, asperger.
How do you use "candle" in a sentence?
Put out the candle. The blackout is over.
How do you pronounce "candle"?
Pronounced /ˈkændl̩/.
Etymology
From Middle English candel, from Old English candel (“candle”), borrowed from Latin candēla (“candle”), from Latin candeō (“be white, bright, shining”, verb); see candid. Doublet of candela and chandelle.