Definition

Material that catches fire easily, like dry sticks or small pieces of wood, used to help start a fire.

Example

We gathered some kindling to start the campfire.

Conversation

Do you have any kindling for the fire pit tonight?

Yeah, I collected some dry sticks earlier.

Perfect! I always struggle to find good kindling when we camp.

No worries, I’ve got plenty to share.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Kindling originates from the Old English 'cyndling', meaning a young offspring or a descendant. The word is related to 'kind', which refers to nature or type, and the suffix '-ling', which denotes a small or young version of something. Thus, 'kindling' refers to small pieces of wood or material that are used to start a fire, akin to the idea of young or small things that ignite or give rise to something larger.

Memory Tip

Think of 'kind' as relating to nature and 'ling' as a small version — so 'kindling' refers to small pieces of wood that help start a fire, like the young sparks that ignite a larger flame.

Visually Confused Words