candle
Word family nouncandlercandleberrycandlefishcandlelightcandlenutcandlestickcandlewickcandlewoodcandleadjectivecandlelit
Daily life
can·dle /ˈkændl/ ●●○ S3 noun [countableC] 1. 
Da stick of wax with a string through the middle, which you burn to give light 蜡烛
Da stick of wax with a string through the middle, which you burn to give light 蜡烛2 can’t hold a candle to somebody/something informalGOOD AT if something or someone cannot hold a candle to something or someone else, they are not as good as the other thing or person 远逊于某人/某物，简直不能与某人/某物相比
→ burn the candle at both ends at burn1(19) No other singer can hold a candle to her.
其他歌手没有一个能比得上她。
Examples from the Corpus
can’t hold a candle to somebody/something• Basketball stars today can't hold a candle to Michael Jordan.
n 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
adjectivesA sudden draught made the candles go out.
a lighted candle
A procession moved through the village carrying lighted candles.
a flickering candle (=with the flame moving unsteadily)
candle + NOUNThe church was full of flickering white candles.
a candle flame
The candle flame flickered.
Examples from the Corpus
candle• There were a new tablecloth and candles on the table.• Citronella candles are a must at an outdoor do.• People drive from all over the region to buy their furniture, candles, quilts, glassware and so on.• Shoes, clothing, leather goods, candles and kitchen utensils are all produced.• We carefully watched the flame of the hour candle eating away the wax from ring to ring.• Ivy, candles and fruit arranged in a wire basket make a sumptuous centrepiece.• The windows had been opened wide and a small breeze fluttered the candles.• Make a wish, take a deep breath, blow out the flames and chow down on the candles.
(600-700) Latin candela, from candere; → CANDID