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    candle

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    candle
    can‧dle S3 /ˈkændl/ 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 burn1(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 | an old oil lamp | 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