Word
kindle
Phoneticskin·dle
US/ˈkɪndəɫ/
UK/kˈɪndəl/
Definitions
01to start a fire
v. to start a fire or make something start burning.
v. to set fire to or ignite a combustible material. Transitive when used with an object like 'fire' or 'coals'.
“He used small dry sticks to kindle the campfire in the woods.”
“The campers gathered dry brushwood and birch bark to kindle a small blaze before the damp evening air could settle in.”
Literary
Usage
Often used with 'fire', 'flame', or 'coals'.
Antonyms
02to inspire a feeling
v. to start a strong feeling, such as interest, hope, or love.
v. to arouse, inspire, or call forth an emotion or interest. Frequently used in the passive voice or with abstract nouns.
“The teacher's stories helped kindle a love of history in the students.”
“The professor's lecture on ancient civilizations served to kindle a lifelong fascination with archaeology in several of her undergraduate students.”
Literary
03a group of kittens
n. a rare word for a group of kittens born at the same time.
n. a collective noun for a brood or litter of kittens.
“The old book mentioned a kindle of kittens hiding in the barn.”
“In traditional venery prose, one might encounter the term 'kindle' to describe a litter of kittens, though the term has largely vanished from modern usage.”
Archaic
Teaching tip
This sense is extremely rare and archaic; learners should use 'litter' in modern contexts.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“That has kindled fears of a US military intervention on Brazilian soil or interference in Brazil’s presidential election.” “That survey records respondents’ activities over one 24-hour “diary day.” The survey’s definition of reading includes time spent reading printed books or magazines, reading on a Kindle or other e-reader, and listening to audiobooks.” Etymology
From Middle English kyndelen, from Old Norse kynda (“to inflame”), from Proto-Germanic *kundijaną.
From Middle English kyndel, from kynde + -el. The verb is derived from the noun form by conversion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/kindle