candle
| Cylinder of wax (such as tallow or paraffin wax) with a central wick of string. A flame applied to the end of the wick melts the wax, which burns and produces a luminous flame. The wick is treated with a substance such as alum so that it carbonizes but does not rapidly burn out. |
| Candles and oil lamps were an early form of artificial lighting. Accurately made candles – which burned at a steady rate – were calibrated along their lengths and used as a type of clock. The candle was also the name of a unit of luminous intensity, replaced in 1940 by the candela (cd), equal to |
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|
?Sign in  |
|---|