I. ˈkand ə l, -ˈaa- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: 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 candle
5. : 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