noun
kindling
KIHND-lihng
Kindling (noun) means Small sticks, twigs, or other easily burnable material used to start a fire. Example: “He gathered kindling before lighting the fireplace.”
noun
1
Small sticks, twigs, or other easily burnable material used to start a fire.
"Go and collect some kindling."
"He gathered kindling before lighting the fireplace."
"Dry kindling catches much faster than damp logs."
How to use kindling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe small, easily lit material — twigs, dry leaves, thin sticks — used to get a fire going before adding bigger logs.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
gather kindling
dry kindling
a bundle of kindling
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Word forms
- Plural
- kindlings
- Comparative
- more kindling
- Superlative
- most kindling
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gathered _____ before lighting the fireplace.
Etymology
From "kindle" plus the suffix "-ing," describing the material used for kindling a fire.
Related words
Rhymes for kindling
See all rhymes for kindling →Frequently asked questions
What does “kindling” mean?
The word “kindling” means small sticks, twigs, or other easily burnable material used to start a fire. In plain terms, the small, easily lit material — twigs, dry leaves, thin sticks — used to get a fire going before adding bigger logs.
How do you pronounce “kindling”?
“Kindling” is pronounced KIHND-lihng (/ˈkɪnd.lɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “kindling” in a sentence?
Here is “kindling” used in a sentence: “He gathered kindling before lighting the fireplace.”
What part of speech is “kindling”?
“Kindling” is a noun.
