kindling
/'kindliɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of starting a fire: The process or action of igniting something, such as a campfire or a piece of wood.
- Material used to start a fire: Small, dry pieces of wood, twigs, paper, or other easily combustible items used to ignite a larger fire.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Act):
- The kindling of the ceremonial fire marked the beginning of the festival.
- Proper kindling requires patience and the right materials.
- Noun (Material):
- He gathered dry leaves and small sticks for kindling.
- We need more kindling before we can start the campfire.
Advanced Usage
- "To catch kindling": To ignite the initial fire-starting material.
- The damp wood wouldn't catch kindling, so we used newspaper instead.
- Figurative Use: Can describe the initial spark or catalyst for an idea, emotion, or event.
- His speech provided the kindling for a revolution. (Here, "kindling" metaphorically represents the initial cause that starts a larger movement.)
Variants and Related Words
- Kindle (verb): To start a fire; to ignite or arouse (an emotion or idea).
- She used a match to kindle the tinder.
- The story kindled his imagination.
- Tinder (noun): Very dry, fine material that catches fire easily, often used with kindling.
- He used dried grass as tinder for the kindling.
Synonyms
- Tinder: Material for starting a fire.
- Firewood (small): Small pieces of wood for starting fires.
- Ignition: The act of starting a fire (more technical).
Related Phrases
- "To add fuel to the kindling": Literally, to add larger fuel to a small, established fire. Figuratively, to worsen an already tense situation.
- His angry comments just added fuel to the kindling.
- "Dry as kindling": A simile describing something as extremely dry.
- The old papers in the attic were dry as kindling.
Noun
- the act of setting something on fire
- material for starting a fire