noun

candle

KAN-duhl

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

candled past tense, candles plural, candles singular

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She lit a _____ to set the mood at dinner.

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

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