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

• tinder box, tinderbox

Related terms

• teend

Coordinate terms

• kindling

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).