KINDLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does kindle mean? 

• KINDLE (verb)
  The verb KINDLE has 3 senses:

1. catch fire

2. cause to start burning

3. call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

  Familiarity information: KINDLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KINDLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they kindle    ... he / she / it kindles   
Past simple: kindled   
Past participle: kindled   
-ing form: kindling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Catch fire

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

inflame; kindle

Context example:

The dried grass of the prairie kindled, spreading the flames for miles

Hypernyms (to "kindle" is one way to...):

flare up (ignite quickly and suddenly, especially after having died down)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

kindling (the act of setting something on fire)

kindling (material for starting a fire)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to start burning

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

conflagrate; enkindle; inflame; kindle

Context example:

The setting sun kindled the sky with oranges and reds

Hypernyms (to "kindle" is one way to...):

ignite; light (cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "kindle"):

rekindle (kindle anew, as of a fire)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

arouse; elicit; enkindle; evoke; fire; kindle; provoke; raise

Context example:

evoke sympathy

Hypernyms (to "kindle" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "kindle"):

strike a chord; touch a chord (evoke a reaction, response, or emotion)

ask for; invite (increase the likelihood of)

draw (elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.)

rekindle (arouse again)

infatuate (arouse unreasoning love or passion in and cause to behave in an irrational way)

prick (to cause a sharp emotional pain)

fire up; heat; ignite; inflame; stir up; wake (arouse or excite feelings and passions)

excite; shake; shake up; stimulate; stir (stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of)

excite (arouse or elicit a feeling)

anger (make angry)

discomfit; discompose; disconcert; untune; upset (cause to lose one's composure)

shame (cause to be ashamed)

bruise; hurt; injure; offend; spite; wound (hurt the feelings of)

overcome; overpower; overtake; overwhelm; sweep over; whelm (overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli)

interest (excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

For a little while, his eye kindled and his voice was firm; for a little while he was again silent.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Her eyes kindled as they turned wistfully toward the window, but they fell on the old house opposite, and she shook her head with sorrowful decision.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

These I whittled into shavings or split into kindling.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he bent her to his will.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I found some shellfish on the shore, and ate them raw, not daring to kindle a fire, for fear of being discovered by the natives.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Now look here, Mart, the other said slowly, with kindling anger, I come here this mornin' to see you.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I have noted your absent mind, your kindling eye, your trying and riveting of old harness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His eyes kindled and a slight flush sprang into his thin cheeks.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Flushed and kindled thus, he looked nearly as beautiful for a man as she for a woman.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The visit was paid, their acquaintance re-established, their interest in each other more than re-kindled.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)