can ‧ dle S3 /ˈkændl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 600-700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: candela , from candere ; ⇨ ↑ candid ]
1 . a stick of ↑ wax with a string through the middle, which you burn to give light
2 . can’t hold a candle to somebody/something informal if something or someone cannot hold a candle to something or someone else, they are not as good as the other thing or person:
No other singer can hold a candle to her.
⇨ burn the candle at both ends at ↑ burn 1 (19)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ light a candle
She lit a candle in the church.
▪ blow out a candle
Can you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake?
▪ a candle burns (=is giving out light)
The house was dark except for one candle burning in a window.
▪ a candle flickers (=the flame moves in an unsteady way)
As the door opened, the candles flickered unsteadily.
▪ a candle goes out
A sudden draught made the candles go out.
■ adjectives
▪ a lighted candle
A procession moved through the village carrying lighted candles.
▪ a flickering candle (=with the flame moving unsteadily)
The church was full of flickering white candles.
■ candle + NOUN
▪ a candle flame
The candle flame flickered.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ light something that produces light, especially electric light, to help you to see:
She switched the kitchen light on.
|
The lights in the house were all off.
▪ lamp an object that produces light by using electricity, oil, or gas - often used in names of lights:
a bedside lamp
|
a street lamp
|
a desk lamp
|
a table lamp
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an old oil lamp
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a paraffin lamp
▪ lantern a lamp that you can carry, consisting of a metal container with glass sides that surrounds a flame or light:
The miners used lanterns which were lit by candles.
▪ torch British English , flashlight American English a small electric lamp that you carry in your hand:
We shone our torches around the cavern.
▪ candle a stick of wax with a string through the middle, which you burn to give light:
The restaurant was lit by candles.
▪ bulb the glass part of an electric light, that the light shines from:
a 100 watt bulb
|
an energy-saving light bulb