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Definition of candle noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

candle

noun
 
/ˈkændl/
 
/ˈkændl/
Idioms
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  1. a round stick of wax with a piece of string (called a wick) through the middle that is lit to give light as it burns
    • a flickering candle
    • The room was lit by candles.
    • to blow out/snuff out a candle
    see also votive candle
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • lighted
    • lit
    • flickering
    verb + candle
    • light
    • blow out
    • extinguish
    candle + verb
    • burn
    • illuminate something
    • light something
    candle + noun
    • flame
    • wax
    • holder
    See full entry
    Word OriginOld English candel, from Latin candela, from candere ‘be white or glisten’.
Idioms
burn the candle at both ends
  1. to become very tired by trying to do too many things and going to bed late and getting up early
cannot hold a candle to somebody/something
  1. is not as good as somebody or something else
    • His singing can't hold a candle to yours.
(the game is) not worth the candle
  1. (old-fashioned, saying) the advantages to be gained from doing something are not great enough, considering the effort or cost involved
    • If the price goes up again, he may decide that the game’s not worth the candle.
See candle in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
perspective
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B2
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