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candlewood

candlewood

9.9
A tree or bush whose wood burns easily to give light
  • noun
  • /ˈkændlˌwʊd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : madera de candela
  • In the forest, we spotted a candlewood shrub shining in the sunlight.

Examples

  • The candlewood tree has velvety, triangular fruits.

    Academic text (1995)
  • He's staying at Candlewood, 451!

  • The candlewood tree produces a fragrant resin that is often used in making candles.

  • Historically, people would gather candlewood for its soft, burnable wood to light their homes.

Synonyms

torchwood
vscandlewood
  • Australian
1 8.8

A tropical or subtropical tree whose wood burns easily for making torches

is a broader term for resinous trees or shrubs used for light historically

Surface Forms

candlewood singular
candlewoods plural

Morphology

candlewood = candle + wood (transparent) = candle + wood

A straightforward compound: a type of wood associated with candles or that can be burned for light, which learners can infer from 'candle' + 'wood'.

Etymology

Candlewood comes from the parts candle and wood. It names trees whose sticky sap makes their wood 'burn like a candle', so people used candlewood as a simple source of light.