# candle

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkændl̩/ · frequency rank #8,520

## Definitions
1. A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.
2. The protruding, removable portion of a filter, particularly a water filter.
3. A unit of luminous intensity, now replaced by the SI unit candela.
4. A fast-growing, light-colored, upward-growing shoot on a pine tree in the spring. As growth slows in summer, the shoot darkens and is no longer conspicuous.
5. Indicates how high or low church something is by height on the candle.

## Etymology
From Middle English candel, from Old English candel (“candle”), borrowed from Latin candēla (“candle”), from Latin candeō (“be white, bright, shining”, verb); see candid. Doublet of candela and chandelle.

## Easily confused with
- **cane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-cane)
- **candy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-candy)
- **canoe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-canoe)
- **conde** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-conde)
- **castle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-castle)
- **cattle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-cattle)
- **cradle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-cradle)
- **cuddle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-cuddle)
- **canine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-canine)
- **Carole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-carole)
- **candor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-candor)
- **Canola** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-canola)
- **candles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-candles)
- **chandler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candle-vs-chandler)
- **cable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cable-vs-candle)
- **canal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canal-vs-candle)
- **cadre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cadre-vs-candle)
- **candid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candid-vs-candle)
- **caddie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caddie-vs-candle)
- **Candice** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candice-vs-candle)

## Common misspellings (9)
`acndle`, `cadnle`, `canddle`, `candel`, `candlle`, `canlde`, `canndle`, `ccandle`, `cnadle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/candle