CANDLE

candle, taper, wax light

(noun) stick of wax with a wick in the middle

candle, candela, cd, standard candle

(noun) the basic unit of luminous intensity adopted under the Systeme International d’Unites; equal to 1/60 of the luminous intensity per square centimeter of a black body radiating at the temperature of 2,046 degrees Kelvin

candle

(verb) examine eggs for freshness by holding them against a light

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

candle (plural candles)

A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.

The protruding, removable portion of a filter, particularly a water filter.

(obsolete) A unit of luminous intensity, now replaced by the SI unit candela.

(forestry) 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.

Verb

candle (third-person singular simple present candles, present participle candling, simple past and past participle candled)

(embryology, transitive) To observe the growth of an embryo inside (an egg), using a bright light source.

(pottery) To dry greenware prior to beginning of the firing cycle, setting the kiln at 200° Celsius until all water is removed from the greenware.

To check an item (such as an envelope) by holding it between a light source and the eye.

Anagrams

• Declan, calend, lanced

Source: Wiktionary

Can"dle, n. Etym: [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L. candela a (white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. candëre to be white. See Candid, and cf. Chandler, Cannel, Kindle.]

1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick composed of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and used to furnish light. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Shak.

Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the wicks in the melted tallow, etc. ("dipped candles"), or by casting or running in a mold.

2. That which gives light; a luminary. By these blessed candles of the night. Shak. Candle nut, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub (Aleurites triloba), a native of some of the Pacific islands; -- socalled because, when dry, it will burn with a bright flame, and is used by the natives as a candle. The oil has many uses.

– Candle power (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard candle. Electric candle, A modification of the electric arc lamp, in which the carbon rods, instead of being placed end to end, are arranged side by side, and at a distance suitable for the formation of the arc at the tip; - - called also, from the name of the inventor, Jablockoff candle.

– Excommunication by inch of candle, a form of excommunication in which the offender is allowed time to repent only while a candle burns.

– Not worth the candle, not worth the cost or trouble.

– Rush candle, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes, peeled except on one side, and dipped in grease.

– Sale by inch of candle, an auction in which persons are allowed to bid only till a small piece of candle burns out.

– Standard candle (Photom.), a special form of candle employed as a standard in photometric measurements; usually, a candle of spermaceti so constructed as to burn at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams, per hour.

– To curse by bell, book and candle. See under Bell.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition