Tyler Brooks
The word candles is the plural form of the word candle, which refers to a light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin. The word candles is not typically used as a verb in the present tense. However, the verb to candle exists, and means to observe the growth of an embryo inside an egg using a bright light source. The word candled is the past participle and past tense form of the verb to candle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | 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) |
| Synonyms | Roman candle, votive candle |
| Example Sentences | "She's smart, but she can't hold a candle to her sister." "The new movie doesn't hold a candle to the original version." "The cake, with more than eighty candles on it, is the table's centrepiece." |
| Other Meanings | embryology: To observe the growth of an embryo inside an egg, using a bright light source. |
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What You'll Learn
Candles are made of wax
The word "candles" is not a verb. However, candles are indeed made of wax.
Candles are solid cylinders of wax or tallow with an ignitable wick embedded in the middle. They are burned to produce light, heat, scent, or for celebration and votive purposes.
Over the centuries, candle waxes have been developed from a variety of fats, oils, and waxy substances derived from animals, insects, plants, and even rocks. Scientists consider "wax" to be a generic term for materials that are solid at room temperature and liquid at higher temperatures.
The earliest candles were made from beeswax, but these were expensive and their use was limited to the elite and churches. Tallow, rendered from animal fats, was a cheaper alternative, but it produced an unpleasant smell and thick black smoke. In the 18th and 19th centuries, spermaceti, a waxy substance derived from sperm whales, was used to produce superior candles that burned longer, brighter, and without an offensive odour.
Today, most candles are made from paraffin wax, a byproduct of petroleum refining. Other common types of wax used in candle-making include soy wax, palm wax, beeswax, gels, and synthetic waxes. These waxes are often blended to create customized formulations.
The choice of wax in candle-making depends on various factors, such as availability, ease of processing, and desirability. While no specific type of wax is considered "best," high-quality waxes of all types have been shown to burn cleanly, safely, and efficiently.
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Candles have a wick
While the word "candles" is not a verb, the word candle has been used as a verb in certain contexts. One example is the phrase "to candle an egg," which means to hold it up to a light source to examine it for freshness or to determine the likelihood of it hatching.
Now, onto the topic of candles and their wicks. Candles are typically made of wax or tallow and contain a wick that can be burned to provide light, heat, scent, or for celebratory purposes. The wick is a crucial component of a candle, acting as a fuel pump to deliver melted wax to the flame. It draws the liquefied wax upwards through capillary action, a process known as "wicking." The wick's absorbency is essential, as it prevents the twine from burning up immediately, allowing the candle to burn steadily.
The size of the wick is important, as it determines the amount of fuel that reaches the flame. A larger wick results in a bigger flame and a faster-burning candle. Different types of wicks are available, such as wooden wicks, which have gained popularity for their aesthetic appeal and the soft crackling sound they produce. Stiffeners can be added to the wick to keep it upright and facilitate the flow of fuel to the flame. These stiffeners also make the wick more rigid and improve its heat conduction.
The choice of wick is critical to the candle's performance, and manufacturers carefully select the proper size, shape, and material to ensure the candle burns cleanly and safely. The diameter, stiffness, fire resistance, and tethering of the wick influence the burning characteristics of the candle. In some cases, wicks are braided flat so that they curl back into the flame as they burn, making them self-consuming.
In conclusion, the presence of a wick is what defines a candle, and the interaction between the wick and the wax is what gives a candle its unique properties, making it a versatile source of light, heat, and fragrance.
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Candles are a light source
A candle is a stick of wax with a wick in the middle. The wick is a piece of string or cord that holds the flame of the candle. Commercial wicks are made from braided cotton and are often infused with chemicals to modify their burning characteristics.
The colour temperature of a candle flame is approximately 1,000 K. The flame is light blue at the base, dark orange-brown in the middle, and yellow at the top. The yellow colour is due to radiative emission from hot soot particles, which are formed through a series of complex chemical reactions. The blue colour is due to chemiluminescence. The blue base of the flame is the hottest part, reaching temperatures of about 1,400 °C (2,550 °F).
Candles have been used for over two millennia and were a significant form of indoor lighting until the invention of other types of light sources. Although electric light has largely made candle use nonessential for illumination, candles are still commonly used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes, as well as in specific cultural and religious settings.
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Candles are used in celebrations
Candles have been used in celebrations for over 5,000 years, with the earliest use attributed to Ancient Egyptians who made rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. Candles are often used to symbolize light, life, purification, and hope, and are a part of important moments in people's lives, such as birthdays, weddings, and funerals.
In Poland, one of the most important holidays is Christmas Eve, during which a candle is lit during dinner to symbolize the presence of Jesus Christ and the light of God's love. Candles are also used during the Rorat, advent services held early in the morning. Scandinavian countries like Sweden celebrate Lucia Day on December 13, where candles are also lit.
Candles are also used in religious ceremonies. For example, during Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, candles are lit. There are several Biblical references to candles, and Emperor Constantine is said to have called for their use during an Easter service in the 4th century. Beeswax candles, introduced in Europe during the Middle Ages, were widely used for church ceremonies due to their pure and clean flame, and sweet smell.
Candles are also used in traditional rituals around the world. For instance, during the Chinese Ghost Festival, they are lit to honor the dead and provide guidance to the spirits of ancestors returning to earth. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is celebrated with altars decorated with candles to light the way for returning souls. In Brazil, Festival Yemoja commemorates the African goddess of water with candles lit on beaches as offerings to honor Yemoja and seek her blessings.
The lighting of candles can add significance to any occasion, whether it is a formal event or an intimate family meal. They can symbolize different things to different people, creating a sense of occasion and transforming the atmosphere.
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Candles have multiple meanings as a verb
The word "candles" is not a verb. However, the word "candle" has multiple meanings as a verb.
To shine or be bright
The word "candle" can be used to mean "to shine or be bright," which is derived from the Latin word "candēre." This usage is related to the words "candid" and "candidate."
To examine for freshness
The phrase "to hold a candle to" is used to mean examining something for its freshness or quality by holding it up to a bright light. For example, one might "hold a candle to" an egg to determine if it is fresh or likely to hatch. This usage may have originated from the practice of holding a bottle of wine in front of a lighted candle while decanting to detect sediment.
To provide light or illumination
In a more figurative sense, the phrase "to hold a candle to" can also mean to provide light or illumination, either literally or metaphorically. For example, one might "hold a candle" during a power outage or "hold a candle to someone's memory" in a figurative sense.
To be on the same level or of equal value
The phrase "to hold a candle to" can also mean to be on the same level or of equal value. For example, one might say that a new movie "doesn't hold a candle to the original version," meaning that it is not as good as the original. This usage is often followed by the negative, indicating that something is not worth the effort, cost, or trouble. For example, "replacing the engine is not worth the candle."
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Frequently asked questions
No, the word "candles" is the third-person singular simple present verb form of the word "candle", which is a noun.
A candle is defined as a stick-shaped piece of wax with a wick (a piece of string) in the middle that can be burned to produce light.
The word "candle" comes from the Middle English and Old English word "candel", which was borrowed from the Latin word "candela", meaning "candle", and the Latin word "candēre", meaning "to shine, be bright".
Yes, there are several idioms that use the word "candle", including "hold a candle to" (meaning "to be on the same level as or as good as"), "not worth the candle" (meaning "not worth the necessary effort, cost, or trouble"), and "burn the candle at both ends" (meaning to expend too much energy or overwork oneself).
Yes, the word "candid", meaning "white, bright, or shining", shares the same root as the word "candle". The word "candidate" is also related, as it comes from the Latin word "candida", meaning "white gown".
