candle
Forms
- Plural
- candles
- present (v1)
- candle
- past (v2)
- candled
- past participle (v3)
- candled
- present participle
- candling
- 3rd person singular
- candles
Definitions
1.A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.
2.The protruding, removable portion of a filter, particularly a water filter.
3.A fast-growing, light-colored, upward-growing shoot on a pine tree in the spring. As growth slows in summer, the shoot darkens and is no longer conspicuous.
4.Indicates how high or low church something is by height on the candle.
- That vicar used to be an evangelical, but she's crept up the candle in recent years.
- That’s why self-consciously Anglo-catholic churches which are a mile high up the paschal candle can do reasonably well in the current climate.
- For those towards the top of the candle, receiving holy communion is not the same as a celebration of the mass, and mailing the sacred host demonstrates a serious lack of reverence for the sacrament.
1.To observe the growth of an embryo inside (an egg), using a bright light source.
2.To dry (greenware) prior to the firing cycle, setting the kiln at 200° Celsius until all water is removed from the greenware.
3.To check (an item, such as an envelope) by holding it between a light source and the eye.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4312
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English candel, from Old English candel (“candle”), borrowed from Latin candēla (“candle”), from Latin candeō (“be white, bright, shining”, verb); see candid.
Doublet of candela and chandelle.