English
kindle
see also: Kindle
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈkɪndl/
Verb

kindle (kindles, present participle kindling; past and past participle kindled)

  1. (transitive) To start (a fire) or light (a torch, a match, coals, etc.).
    • 1841, Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales, page 336:
      If a person kindle a fire in the house of another person, let him pay for the house to the owner, if it be burned.
    • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4:
      And then it was that I first perceived the danger in which I stood; for there was no hope of kindling a light, and I doubted now whether even in the light I could ever have done much to dislodge the great slab of slate.
  2. (transitive, figuratively) To arouse or inspire (a passion, etc).
    He kindled an enthusiasm for the project in his fellow workers.
  3. (intransitive, figuratively) To begin to grow or take hold.
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. In Six Volumes, volume (please specify ), London: Printed by A[ndrew] Millar, […], OCLC 928184292 ↗:
      |||tr=|brackets=|subst=|lit=|nocat=1|footer=}}|}}
      The doctor now interposed, and prevented the effects of a wrath which was kindling between Jones and Thwackum […]
Synonyms Antonyms Translations Translations Related terms Noun

kindle (plural kindles)

  1. (rare, collective) A group of kittens.
    A kindle of kittens.
Translations Verb

kindle (kindles, present participle kindling; past and past participle kindled)

  1. (intransitive, of a, rabbit or hare) To bring forth young; to give birth.
    • 2014, Karen Patry, The Rabbit-Raising Problem Solver, Storey Publishing ISBN 9781612124667, page 146:
      If she kindled and lost just a few kits and is not bony over her back and hind end, you can rebreed immediately. If she kindled a large litter (more than, say, eight kits), you may wish to wait a week or two before rebreeding so that she can  ...
    • The poor beast had but lately kindled.
Translations Adjective

kindle

  1. (of an animal) pregnant
Kindle
Proper noun
  1. Surname


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