candle
/ˈkændl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkændl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkan-dᵊl/ (ame, mw)
candle — noun
1. a stick-shaped object made of wax or another solid material that contains a cent
a stick-shaped object made of wax or another solid material that contains a central thread; lighting that thread produces a small flame that slowly melts the wax and gives off a gentle yellow glow.
Theo lit a candle on the dinner table before the guests arrived.
collocation: light a candle
A single candle in a glass jar gave just enough light for reading.
The power went out, so the family lit several candles around the living room.
Breathe deeply and imagine a burning candle in front of you.
Yara placed the candle on a small dish to catch the dripping wax.
- taper
a long, thin candle used in formal or religious settings — less common in everyday speech
- votive
a small, short candle often placed in a holder for prayer or decoration — a subtype, not a general synonym
- tea light
a very short, wide candle inside a metal or plastic cup, used for heating or gentle light
用法筆記
The burning tip is called the flame; the melted wax that runs down the side is called wax drips. A candle that has never been lit is new; one that has been burning for some time has a burned-down wick.
常見錯誤
candle — verb
1. to hold a raw egg up to a bright light source — traditionally a candle — in a da
to hold a raw egg up to a bright light source — traditionally a candle — in a dark room so that you can see through the shell and check whether the inside is fresh, has a developing embryo, or has gone bad.
The farmer candled each egg before sending them to market.
passive: eggs are candled
Kofi held each egg up to the lamp and candled it, looking for any cracks or dark spots inside.
Priya learned to candle eggs by holding them against a lamp in a dark hallway.
Workers in hatcheries sit in a dark room, holding each egg to a bright light to candle it for embryos.
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used for eggs. The past tense is candled, and the noun form candling refers to the process itself. This sense is rare in everyday conversation — most learners will encounter it only in agricultural or culinary texts.