kin|dle

kin|dle¹ «KIHN duhl», verb, -dled, -dling.

–v.t.

1. to set fire to; light; ignite: »

Light the paper with a match to kindle the wood.

2. Figurative. to stir up; arouse: »

His cruelty kindled our anger.

SYNONYM(S): inflame, excite, rouse, inspire.

3. Figurative. to light up; make bright: »

Pleasure kindled the child's face.

–v.i.

1. to catch fire; begin to burn; burst into flame: »

This damp wood will never kindle.

2. Figurative. to become stirred up or aroused: »

The warrior spirit of the cavaliers kindled at the thoughts (Washington Irving).

3. Figurative. to become eager or animated; light up; brighten: »

The boy's face kindled as he told about the circus.

╂[probably ultimately < Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic kynda kindle) + English -le]

–kin´dler, noun.

Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Kindle, ignite mean to set on fire. Kindle means to cause something like wood to burn by setting fire to it, and often suggests some work in getting a fire going: »

He kindled a fire in the fireplace.

Ignite suggests causing something highly flammable like very dry wood and grass, cleaning fluids, gas, or oil to burst into flame by putting a spark, tiny flame, or great heat to or near it: »

Firemen tried to keep flying sparks from igniting the shingles of the house.

kin|dle² «KIHN duhl», verb, -dled, -dling, noun.

–v.t., v.i.

Dialect. (of a female animal) to give birth to (young).

–n.

1. a litter of kittens: »

It seems only yesterday that they were a mere kindle of kittens (New Yorker).

2. Obsolete. the young of any animal; a young one.

╂[Middle English kindlen. Compare German Kind child. See related etym. at kind². (Cf. ↑kind)]