Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Tinder

Tin′der

,
Noun.
[OE.
tinder
,
tunder
, AS.
tynder
,
tyndre
; akin to
tendan
to kindle, D.
tonder
tinder, G.
zunder
, OHG.
zuntara
,
zuntra
, Icel.
tundr
, Sw.
tunder
, Dan.
tönder
. See
Tind
.]
Something very inflammable, used for kindling fire from a spark, as scorched linen.
German tinder
.
Same as
Amadou
.
Tinder box
,
a box in which tinder is kept.

Webster 1828 Edition


Tinder

TIND'ER

,
Noun.
Something very inflammable used for kindling fire from a spark; as scorched linen.

Definition 2024


tinder

tinder

English

Noun

tinder (uncountable)

  1. small dry sticks and finely-divided fibrous matter etc., used to help light a fire.

Usage notes

Tinder refers to the first stage of building a fire: sparks light tinder, which then lights kindling, which then lights the main fire.

Derived terms

Related terms

Coordinate terms

Translations

Verb

tinder (third-person singular simple present tinders, present participle tindering, simple past and past participle tindered)

  1. (transitive) To set fire to; torch.
    • Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
      Is heaven a murderer when its lightning strikes a would-be murderer in his bed, tindering sheets and skin together?

References

  1. tinder” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).