# candle

/ˈkændəɫ/ (US) · /kˈændəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/candle
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wax light source

noun · CEFR A2

a stick of wax with a string (wick) in the middle that you burn to produce light.

For teachers: a light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax or paraffin.

- She lit a scented candle to make the living room feel more relaxing.
- The power cut forced the family to rely on a few old candles they found in the kitchen drawer.

### 2. to check with light

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to look through something, like an egg or an envelope, by holding it up to a bright light.

For teachers: to examine an object by holding it between the eye and a light source, typically to check for internal defects or contents.

- The farmer had to candle the eggs to see which ones were developing properly.
- Security personnel may candle suspicious envelopes to determine if they contain any illicit materials without opening the seal.

Usage: This transitive verb is most commonly used in poultry farming or postal security.

### 3. unit of light

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old way of measuring how bright a light is.

For teachers: a former unit of luminous intensity, now largely superseded by the SI unit candela.

- The old lighthouse used a lamp that was equal to thousands of candles.
- Early photometric standards relied on the light emitted by a standard candle of specific composition and weight.

## Examples

- She blew out the candle on her birthday cake.
- When the storm knocked out the power, we lit a candle in every room to see.
- The flickering light of a single candle cast long, dancing shadows against the stone walls of the old cellar, creating an atmosphere of quiet mystery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.