noun B1 Intermediate Common

candle

KAN-duhl

Candle (noun) means a stick of wax with a wick that burns to give light. Example: “She lit a candle to set the mood at dinner.”

noun

A stick of wax with a wick that burns to give light.

"She lit a candle to set the mood at dinner."

"The power cut left them reading by candlelight for hours."

verb

To check the health of a growing embryo in an egg by holding it up to a bright light.

"The farmer candled the eggs to check for fertility."

How to Use Candle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA wax stick with a wick, burned for light or atmosphere.

Common pairings

light a candle candle wax birthday candles

Word Forms

candled past tense, candles plural, candles singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She lit a _____ to set the mood at dinner.

Etymology

From Old English candel, borrowed from Latin candela, from candere, "to shine" — the same root behind "candid" and "candela".

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for candle

handle panhandle

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “candle” mean?

The word “candle” means a stick of wax with a wick that burns to give light. In plain terms, a wax stick with a wick, burned for light or atmosphere.

How do you pronounce “candle”?

“Candle” is pronounced KAN-duhl (/ˈkæn.dəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “candle” in a sentence?

Here is “candle” used in a sentence: “She lit a candle to set the mood at dinner.”

What part of speech is “candle”?

Depending on how it is used, “candle” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “candle” come from?

The word “candle” comes from Latin. From Old English candel, borrowed from Latin candela, from candere, "to shine" — the same root behind "candid" and "candela".

Is “candle” a common word?

“Candle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “candle” have?

“Candle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a stick of wax with a wick that burns to give light.