kindling

[kind-ling] /ˈkɪnd lɪŋ/
noun
1.
material that can be readily ignited, used in starting a fire.
2.
the act of one who kindles.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English; see kindle1, -ing1
Related forms
unkindling, adjective

kindle1

[kin-dl] /ˈkɪn dl/
verb (used with object), kindled, kindling.
1.
to start (a fire); cause (a flame, blaze, etc.) to begin burning.
2.
to set fire to or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter).
3.
to excite; stir up or set going; animate; rouse; inflame:
He kindled their hopes of victory.
4.
to light up, illuminate, or make bright:
Happiness kindled her eyes.
verb (used without object), kindled, kindling.
5.
to begin to burn, as combustible matter, a light, fire, or flame.
6.
to become aroused or animated.
7.
to become lighted up, bright, or glowing, as the sky at dawn or the eyes with ardor.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English kindlen < Old Norse kynda; compare Old Norse kindill torch, candle
Related forms
kindler, noun
Synonyms
1–3. fire, light. Kindle, ignite, inflame imply setting something on fire. To kindle is especially to cause something gradually to begin burning; it is often used figuratively: to kindle someone's interest. To ignite is to set something on fire with a sudden burst of flame: to ignite dangerous hatreds. Inflame is now found chiefly in figurative uses, as referring to unnaturally hot, sore, or swollen conditions in the body, or to exciting the mind by strong emotion: The wound was greatly inflamed. 3. arouse, awaken, bestir, incite, stimulate.

kindle2

[kin-dl] /ˈkɪn dl/
verb (used with object), kindled, kindling.
1.
(of animals, especially rabbits) to bear (young); produce (offspring).
verb (used without object), kindled, kindling.
2.
(of animals, especially rabbits) to give birth, as to a litter.
noun
3.
a litter of kittens, rabbits, etc.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English kindelen, v. use of kindel offspring, young, equivalent to kind- (Old English gecynd offspring; see kind2) + -el -le
Examples from the web for kindling
  • Start a fire inside the pit using paper, kindling and a nonoily hardwood such as oak or hickory.
  • Then they gather in clusters of six or seven, each group taking shelter behind a small dune and kindling a meager fire.
  • The kindling-wood burned beautifully, but when its flames expired there was not a sign of fire on the side of the ship.
  • Anyone who's ever tried to start a fireplace fire or campfire by lighting kindling with a match knows how this works.
  • When the tinder catches, shove it under the teepee and add bits of tinder and small kindling until the fire is burning.
  • For example, firefighters will intentionally set sections of forest aflame to deprive an approaching wildfire of kindling.
  • It's about what kind of kindling is there when a spark goes off.
  • From kindling to crafts, dryer lint has several useful household applications.
  • The dry kindling of resentment is here to be ignited.
  • He lit a cigarette and, discarding the match, set the kindling ablaze.
British Dictionary definitions for kindling

kindling

/ˈkɪndlɪŋ/
noun
1.
material for starting a fire, such as dry wood, straw, etc

kindle

/ˈkɪndəl/
verb
1.
to set alight or start to burn
2.
to arouse or be aroused: the project kindled his interest
3.
to make or become bright
Derived Forms
kindler, noun
Word Origin
C12: from Old Norse kynda, influenced by Old Norse kyndill candle

Kindle

/ˈkɪndəl/
noun
1.
trademark a portable electronic device for downloading and reading books
Word Origin and History for kindling
n.

"material for lighting fire," 1510s, from present participle of kindle (v.). Earlier "a setting alight" (c.1300).

kindle

v.

c.1200, cundel, "to set fire to, to start on fire," probably from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse kynda "to kindle, to light a fire," Swedish quindla "kindle," of uncertain origin, + frequentative suffix -le. Figurative use from c.1300. Intransitive sense "to begin to burn, to catch fire" is from c.1400. Related: Kindled; kindling.

Influenced in form, and sometimes in Middle English in sense, with kindel "to give birth" (of animals), "bring forth, produce" (c.1200), from kindel (n.) "offspring of an animal, young one," from Old English gecynd (see kind (n.)) + -el.