Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

candle

 - 10 dictionary results
Ralph Lauren 5-Day Sale
Ends Monday! Save up to 40%. Use Code NOV59SG for Another 15% Off.
www.RalphLauren.com
Ear Coning & Supplies
Cones - Accessories - Kombucha Aroma Therapy - Best Prices!
www.KatisConing.com
St. John Candles
Shop designer candles & more at the official St. John site.
www.SJK.com

can⋅dle

  [kan-dl] noun, verb, -dled, -dling.
Use candle in a Sentence
–noun
1. a long, usually slender piece of tallow or wax with an embedded wick that is burned to give light.
2. something resembling a candle in appearance or use.
3. Optics.
a. (formerly) candela.
b. Also called international candle. a unit of luminous intensity, defined as a fraction of the luminous intensity of a group of 45 carbon-filament lamps: used from 1909 to 1948 as the international standard.
c. a unit of luminous intensity, equal to the luminous intensity of a wax candle of standard specifications: used prior to 1909 as the international standard. Abbreviation: c., c
–verb (used with object)
4. to examine (eggs) for freshness, fertility, etc., by holding them up to a bright light.
5. to hold (a bottle of wine) in front of a lighted candle while decanting so as to detect sediment and prevent its being poured off with the wine.
—Idioms
6. burn the candle at both ends. burn (def. 43).
7. hold a candle to, to compare favorably with (usually used in the negative): She's smart, but she can't hold a candle to her sister.
8. worth the candle, worth the trouble or effort involved (usually used in the negative): Trying to win them over to your viewpoint is not worth the candle.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE candel < L candēla, equiv. to cand(ēre) to shine + -ēla deverbal n. suffix; see candid

Related forms:
candler, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To candle
Ralph Lauren 5-Day Sale
Ends Monday! Save up to 40%. Use Code NOV59SG for Another 15% Off.
www.RalphLauren.com
Ear Coning & Supplies
Cones - Accessories - Kombucha Aroma Therapy - Best Prices!
www.KatisConing.com
can·del·a   (kān-děl'ə)   
n.   Abbr. cd
A unit of luminous intensity equal to 1/60 of the luminous intensity per square centimeter of a blackbody radiating at the temperature of solidification of platinum (2,046°K). Also called candle. See Table at measurement.

[Latin candēla, candle; see candle.]
can·dle   (kān'dl)   
n.  

    1. A solid, usually cylindrical mass of tallow, wax, or other fatty substance with an axially embedded wick that is burned to provide light.

    2. Something resembling this object in shape or use.

    3. Abbr. c An obsolete unit of luminous intensity, originally defined in terms of a wax candle with standard composition and equal to 1.02 candelas. Also called international candle.

    4. See candela.

  2. Physics

    1. Abbr. c An obsolete unit of luminous intensity, originally defined in terms of a wax candle with standard composition and equal to 1.02 candelas. Also called international candle.

    2. See candela.

tr.v.   can·dled, can·dling, can·dles
To examine (an egg) for freshness or fertility by holding it before a bright light.

[Middle English candel, from Old English and from Anglo-Norman candele, both from Latin candēla, from candēre, to shine; see kand- in Indo-European roots.]
can'dler n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

candle 
O.E. candel, early church-word borrowing from L. candela "a light, torch," from candere "to shine," from PIE base *kand- "to glow, to shine, to shoot out light" (cf. Skt. cand- "to give light, shine," candra- "shining, glowing, moon;" Gk. kandaros "coal;" Welsh cann "white;" M.Ir. condud "fuel"). Candles were unknown in ancient Greece (where oil lamps sufficed), but common from early times among Romans and Etruscans. Candles on birthday cakes seems to have been originally a German custom. To hold a candle to originally meant "to help in a subordinate capacity." Candlemass, O.E. candelmæsse, is the feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary (Feb. 2), celebrated with many candles, corresponding to Celtic pagan Imbolc. To burn the candle at both ends is recorded from 1730.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: can·dle
Pronunciation: 'kan-d&l
Function: noun
1 : a medicated candle or lozenge used for fumigation
2 : CANDELA
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

candle can·dle (kān'dl)
n.
See candela.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Computing Dictionary

Candle
Part of the Scorpion environment development system.
(1994-11-09)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Cite This Source
Bible Dictionary

Candle

Heb. ner, Job 18:6; 29:3; Ps. 18:28; Prov. 24:20, in all which places the Revised Version and margin of Authorized Version have "lamp," by which the word is elsewhere frequently rendered. The Hebrew word denotes properly any kind of candle or lamp or torch. It is used as a figure of conscience (Prov. 20:27), of a Christian example (Matt. 5:14, 15), and of prosperity (Job 21:17; Prov. 13:9).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

candle

see burn the candle at both ends; game is not worth the candle; hold a candle to.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia

candle

light source now mostly used for decorative and ceremonial purposes, consisting of wax, tallow, or similar slow-burning material, commonly in cylindrical form but made in many fanciful designs, enclosing and saturating a fibrous wick.

Learn more about candle with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see candle on Thesaurus | Reference
St. John Candles
Shop designer candles & more at the official St. John site.
www.SJK.com
Yankee Candles On Sale
Save up to 50% Off Everyday Great Selection, Prices & Service
www.CandlesToMyDoor.com
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way