Standard Lemma guide

tealight

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈtiˌlaɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small, typically circular candle encased in a thin metal cup, so that it liquefies completely when lit and burns as a wick immersed in molten wax.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2004, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service https://web.archive.org/web/20071027212506/http://www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2004/april-2004/tea-lights-pose-potential-danger.en Candles and tealights can be hazardous and must be used in accordance with any instructions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tea candle

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From tea + light, since they are sometimes used to keep a teapot warm. Compare Dutch theelicht (“tealight”), German Teelicht (“tealight”).

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 茶燭 /茶烛 (cházhú) — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Czech: čajová svíčka — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Danish: fyrfadslys — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Dutch: theelicht — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Dutch: waxinelicht — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Finnish: lämpökynttilä — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Finnish: tuikku — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • French: bougie à réchaud — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • French: bougie chauffe-plat — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • German: Teelicht — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Norwegian Bokmål: telys — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: telys — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: teljos — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Polish: świeczka do podgrzewacza — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Russian: ча́йная све́чка (čájnaja svéčka) — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Spanish: velita de taza — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup
  • Swedish: värmeljus — small, typically circular candle encased in thin metal cup