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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary can·dle \\ˈkan-d əl\\ noun ETYMOLOGY Middle English candel, from Old English, from Latin candela, from candēre
DATE before 12th century
1. a usually molded or dipped mass of wax or tallow containing a wick that may be burned (as to give light, heat, or scent or for celebration or votive purposes)2. something resembling a candle in shape or use a sulfur candle for fumigating3. required effort, expense, or trouble — usually used in the phrase not worth the candle4. candela transitive verb ( can·dled ; can·dling \\ˈkan(d)-liŋ, ˈkan-d əl-iŋ\\) DATE 1879
: to examine by holding between the eye and a light; especially : to test (eggs) in this way for staleness, blood clots, fertility, and growth • can·dler \\ˈkan(d)-lər, ˈkan-d əl-ər\\ noun
candle
O.E. candel, early church-word borrowing from L. candela "a light, torch," from candere "to shine," from PIE base *kand- "to glow, to shine, to shoot out light" (cf. Skt. cand- "to give light, shine," candra-"shining, glowing, moon;" Gk. kandaros "coal;" Welsh cann "white;" M.Ir. condud "fuel"). Candles were unknown in ancient Greece (where oil lamps sufficed), but common from early times among Romans and Etruscans. Candles on birthday cakes seems to have been originally a German custom. To hold a candle to originally meant "to help in a subordinate capacity." Candlemass, O.E. candelmæsse, is the feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary (Feb. 2), celebrated with many candles, corresponding to Celtic pagan Imbolc. To burn the candle at both ends is recorded from 1730.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishcandle
noun
ADJ. lighted | flickering VERB + CANDLE light | blow out, snuff (out) CANDLE + VERB burn | flicker | go out CANDLE + NOUN flame Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 candlecan·dle / 5kAndl / noun a round stick of wax with a piece of string (called a wick ) through the middle which is lit to give light as it burns 蜡烛 IDIOMS ▪ cannot hold a candle to sb / sth is not as good as sb or sth else 不如…好；比不上…；无法与…媲美: His singing can't hold a candle to Pavarotti's. 他的演唱无法与帕瓦罗蒂媲美。 ⇨ more at burn v., worth adj.
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged can·dleI. \ˈkand əl, -ˈaa-\ noun( -s) Usage: often attributiveEtymology: Middle English candel, from Old English, from Latin candela, from candēre to shine — more at candid 1. : a long slender cylindrical mass typically of tallow or wax containing a wick of loosely twisted linen or cotton threads made by dipping or by casting in a metal mold and burned to give light 2. : something that gives light; specifically : a heavenly body < he that can count the candles of the sky — Richard Linche >3. : a medicated candle or pastille used for fumigation 4. a. : an international unit of luminous intensity equal to the luminous intensity of five square millimeters of platinum at its solidification point of 1773.5° C — called also international candle b. : a similar unit equal to one sixtieth of the luminous intensity of one square centimeter of a blackbody surface at the solidification point of platinum : a unit about 98.1 percent of a candle (sense 4 a) — called also candela, new candle5. : filter 1b 6. : a device for emitting thick colored smoke for various military purposes • - by the candle II. transitive verb( candled ; candled ; candling \-d( ə)liŋ\ ; candles) : to examine by holding between the eye and a light; especially : to test (eggs) in this way for staleness, blood clots, fertility, and growth
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