to start (a fire); cause (a flame, blaze, etc.) to begin burning.
2.
to set fire to or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter).
3.
to excite; stir up or set going; animate; rouse; inflame: He kindled their hopes of victory.
4.
to light up, illuminate, or make bright: Happiness kindled her eyes.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to begin to burn, as combustible matter, a light, fire, or flame.
6.
to become aroused or animated.
7.
to become lighted up, bright, or glowing, as the sky at dawn or the eyes with ardor.
[Origin: 1150–1200; ME kindlen < ON kynda; cf. ON kindill torch, candle]
—Related forms
kindler, noun
—Synonyms 1–3. fire, light. Kindle,ignite,inflame imply setting something on fire. To kindle is esp. to cause something gradually to begin burning; it is often used figuratively: to kindle someone's interest. To ignite is to set something on fire with a sudden burst of flame: to ignite dangerous hatreds. Inflame is now found chiefly in figurative uses, as referring to unnaturally hot, sore, or swollen conditions in the body, or to exciting the mind by strong emotion: The wound was greatly inflamed. 3. arouse, awaken, bestir, incite, stimulate.
Can"dle\, n. [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L. candela a (white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. cand["e]re to be white. See Candid, and cf. Chandler, Cannel, Kindle.]1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick composed of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and used to furnish light. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. --Shak. Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the wicks in the melted tallow, etc. ("dipped candles"), or by casting or running in a mold. 2. That which gives light; a luminary. By these blessed candles of the night. --Shak. Candle nut, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub (Aleurites triloba), a native of some of the Pacific islands; -- socalled because, when dry, it will burn with a bright flame, and is used by the natives as a candle. The oil has many uses. Candle power (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard candle. Electric candle, A modification of the electric arc lamp, in which the carbon rods, instead of being placed end to end, are arranged side by side, and at a distance suitable for the formation of the arc at the tip; -- called also, from the name of the inventor, Jablockoff candle. Excommunication by inch of candle, a form of excommunication in which the offender is allowed time to repent only while a candle burns. Not worth the candle, not worth the cost or trouble. Rush candle, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes, peeled except on one side, and dipped in grease. Sale by inch of candle, an auction in which persons are allowed to bid only till a small piece of candle burns out. Standard candle (Photom.), a special form of candle employed as a standard in photometric measurements; usually, a candle of spermaceti so constructed as to burn at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams, per hour. To curse by bell, book and candle. See under Bell.
Kin`dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Kindling.] [Icel. kyndill candle, torch; prob. fr. L. candela; cf. also Icel. kynda to kindle. Cf. Candle.]1. To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause to begin burning; to start; to light; as, to kindle a match, or shavings. His breath kindleth coals. --Job xii. 21. 2. Fig.: To inflame, as the passions; to rouse; to provoke; to excite to action; to heat; to fire; to animate; to incite; as, to kindle anger or wrath; to kindle the flame of love, or love into a flame. So is a contentious man to kindle strife. --Prov. xxvi. 21. Nothing remains but that I kindle the boy thither. --Shak. Kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam. --Milton. Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. --Dryden. Syn: Enkindle; light; ignite; inflame; provoke; excite; arouse; stir up.
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Audio Help [kin-dl] Pronunciation Key verb, -dled, -dling. 
