Adjacent Words

Kindle definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

KIN'DLE, v.t. [L. accendo; from the root of candeo, caneo, to be light or white, to shine.]
1. To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to light; as, to kindle a fire.
2. To inflame, as the passions; to exasperate; to rouse; to provoke; to excite to action; to heat; to fire; to animate; as, to kindle anger or wrath; to kindle resentment; to kindle the flame of love, or love into a flame.
So is a contentious woman to kindle strife. Proverbs 26.
3. To bring forth.
KIN'DLE, v.i. To take fire; to begin to burn with flame. Fuel and fire well laid, will kindle without a bellows.
1. To begin to rage, or be violently excited; to be roused or exasperated.
It shall kindle in the thickets of the forest. Isaiah 9.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: catch fire; "The dried grass of the prairie kindled, spreading the flames for miles" [syn: kindle, inflame]
2: cause to start burning; "The setting sun kindled the sky with oranges and reds" [syn: kindle, enkindle, conflagrate, inflame]
3: call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy" [syn: arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, fire, raise, provoke]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (kindled; kindling) Etymology: Middle English, probably modification of Old Norse kynda; akin to Old High German cuntesal fire Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. to start (a fire) burning ; light 2. a. to stir up ; arouse <kindle interest> b. to bring into being ; start 3. to cause to glow ; illuminate intransitive verb 1. to catch fire 2. a. to flare up b. to become animated 3. to become illuminated • kindler noun II. verb (kindled; kindling) Etymology: Middle English, from kindle young animal, probably from kinde, noun, kind Date: 13th century transitive verb bear 2a — used especially of a rabbit intransitive verb to bring forth young — used especially of a rabbit

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. 1 tr. light or set on fire (a flame, fire, substance, etc.). 2 intr. catch fire, burst into flame. 3 tr. arouse or inspire (kindle enthusiasm for the project; kindle jealousy in a rival). 4 intr. (usu. foll. by to) respond, react (to a person, an action, etc.) (kindle to his courage). 5 intr. become animated, glow with passion etc. (her imagination kindled). 6 tr. & intr. make or become bright (kindle the embers to a glow). Derivatives: kindler n. Etymology: ME f. ON kynda, kindle: cf. ON kindill candle, torch

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Kindle Kin"dle (k[i^]n"d'l), v. i. 1. To take fire; to begin to burn with flame; to start as a flame. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. --Is. xliii. 2. 2. Fig.: To begin to be excited; to grow warm or animated; to be roused or exasperated. On all occasions where forbearance might be called for, the Briton kindles, and the Christian gives way. --I. Taylor.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Kindle Kin"dle, v. t. & i. [OE. kindlen, cundlen. See Kind.] To bring forth young. [Obs.] --Shak. The poor beast had but lately kindled. --Holland.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Kindle Kin`dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Kindling.] [Icel. kyndill candle, torch; prob. fr. L. candela; cf. also Icel. kynda to kindle. Cf. Candle.] 1. To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause to begin burning; to start; to light; as, to kindle a match, or shavings. His breath kindleth coals. --Job xii. 21. 2. Fig.: To inflame, as the passions; to rouse; to provoke; to excite to action; to heat; to fire; to animate; to incite; as, to kindle anger or wrath; to kindle the flame of love, or love into a flame. So is a contentious man to kindle strife. --Prov. xxvi. 21. Nothing remains but that I kindle the boy thither. --Shak. Kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam. --Milton. Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. --Dryden. Syn: Enkindle; light; ignite; inflame; provoke; excite; arouse; stir up.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(kindles, kindling, kindled) 1. If something kindles a particular emotion in someone, it makes them start to feel it. The second world war kindled his enthusiasm for politics... VERB: V n 2. If you kindle a fire, you light paper or wood in order to start it. I came in and kindled a fire in the stove. VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Light, ignite, enkindle, inflame, set fire to, set on fire. 2. Excite, rouse, awaken, provoke, incite, stimulate, animate, whet, stir up, foment. 3. Exasperate, excite, provoke, enrage. II. v. n. 1. Take fire. 2. Get excited, grow warm, fly into a passion. 3. Fire, glow, warm, thrill, stir, start, quicken, become impassioned.

Moby Thesaurus

agitate, anger, animate, annoy, arouse, awake, awaken, bank, bestir, blaze, blaze up, blow the coals, blow up, burn, call forth, call up, challenge, conflagrate, dynamize, electrify, energize, enkindle, enliven, enrage, excite, exhilarate, fan, fan the fire, fan the flame, feed, feed the fire, fire, fire up, flame, flame up, flare, flare up, foment, frenzy, galvanize, glow, goad, hearten, heat, ignite, impassion, incense, incite, inflame, infuriate, inspire, inspirit, instigate, invigorate, jazz up, jolt, key up, lather up, light, light the fuse, light up, liven, madden, move, overexcite, pep up, perk up, prick, prompt, provoke, quicken, rally, rekindle, relight, relume, rouse, set astir, set fire to, set off, set on fire, shake up, snap up, spark, spunk up, spur, steam up, stimulate, stir, stir the blood, stir the embers, stir the feelings, stir the fire, stir up, stoke, stoke the fire, strike a light, summon up, take fire, torch, touch off, trigger, turn on, vitalize, wake, wake up, waken, warm, warm the blood, whet, whip up, work into, work up, zip up