# tinder

/ˈtɪndɝ/ (US) · /tˈɪndɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. fire-starting material

noun · CEFR B2

small, dry things like sticks, paper, or grass that catch fire easily and help you start a bigger fire.

For teachers: dry, combustible material used to kindle a fire by catching a spark or small flame.

- We gathered some dry leaves and small twigs to use as tinder for the campfire.
- Without dry tinder, the hikers struggled to ignite the damp logs they had scavenged from the forest floor after the storm.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the material generally; countable when referring to specific types.

### 2. dating application

noun · CEFR B1

a famous mobile app where people look at profiles and swipe to find dates or new friends.

For teachers: a proprietary geosocial networking application that allows users to like or dislike other users based on their profiles.

- He decided to join Tinder after his friends told him it was a good way to meet people.
- The rise of Tinder has fundamentally altered the landscape of modern dating, popularizing the 'swipe' mechanic as a primary form of social interaction.

Usage: Usually capitalized as a proper noun.

### 3. using the dating app

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to use the Tinder app to look for people to date.

For teachers: to engage with the Tinder application, typically involving the act of browsing and swiping through user profiles.

- She spent the evening Tindering while waiting for her laundry to finish.
- Despite Tindering for several months, he found that meaningful connections remained elusive in the digital environment.

Usage: Intransitive verb derived from the brand name.

## Examples

- We gathered dry leaves to use as tinder for the campfire.
- Before the sun set, the hikers collected a handful of birch bark to serve as tinder.
- The forest floor was covered in a thick layer of pine needles, providing perfect tinder for a lightning strike to ignite a massive wildfire.

---

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.