kindle — to start a fire; to ignite something
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to start a fire; to ignite something
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɪndəl/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother could kindle a campfire faster than any Boy Scout.
- The teacher's enthusiasm kindled a love of learning in her students.
- He tried to kindle romance with poetry, but his verses kindled only laughter.
kindle
VERB[/ˈkɪndəl/]
to start a fire; to ignite something

The old ranger patiently strikes flint to kindle a small campfire at dusk.

KIND(gentle) + LE(letter) — reading the KIND LEtter from his teacher managed to instantly kindle his passion for writing.

As the camp's heat began to dwindle, he gathered dry dead leaves to quickly kindle a new fire.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old Norse 'kyndill' meaning 'candle' or 'torch', which is related to 'kynda' meaning 'to kindle' or 'light'. The word entered Middle English through Scandinavian contact and eventually came to mean 'to ignite' or 'set fire to'.
Breakdown
kin- (from Old Norse kynda, to light) + -dle (diminutive/instrumental suffix, as in 'candle') = kindle (to set alight or ignite)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother could kindle a campfire faster than any Boy Scout.”
“The teacher's enthusiasm kindled a love of learning in her students.”
“He tried to kindle romance with poetry, but his verses kindled only laughter.”
“The dry leaves kindled immediately when the spark touched them.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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