How do you use the word "wick" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "wick" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "wick": A candle without a wick is no candle at all. The flame flickered as it consumed the wax and the wick of the candle.

Wick Meaning

/ˈwɪk/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA braid or bundle of fibre or other porous material (now generally twisted or woven cotton) in a candle, kerosene heater, oil lamp, etc., that draws up a liquid fuel (such as melted tallow or wax, or oil) at one end, to be ignited at the other end to produce a flame.

Sentence Examples

A candle without a wick is no candle at all.

The flame flickered as it consumed the wax and the wick of the candle.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

taper

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

She lit the new candle, and the flame traveled down the ____ to the wax base.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The center of the candle has a small ____ that is lit with a match to produce a several bright and warm flame today.

Word Origin & History

The noun is derived from Middle English wek, weke, wicke (“fibrous cord drawing fuel to flame of a candle, etc.; material used to make this object”), from Old English wēoce (“wick”), from Proto-West Germanic *weukā (“flax bundle; wick”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *weg- (“to weave”). It has been suggested that noun etymology 1, noun sense 2 (“penis”) is derived from Hampton Wick, used as rhyming slang for prick. If so, that sense should be placed under etymology 2. The verb is derived from the noun. cognates * Dutch wiek (“wick; wing; blade, propeller”) * German Wieche (“wick; wisp”) * Swedish veke (“wick”) * West Frisian wjok, wjuk (“wing”)

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Theſe cordes, they caule Cabuia and Henequen, which are al one thing ſauyng that Henequen is leſſe and of a fyner ſubſtaunce as it were line: And the other is groſſer lyke the wycke or twyſte of hempe, and is imperfecte in compariſon to the other." — 1555, Peter Martyr of Angleria [i.e., Peter Martyr d’Anghiera], “Of Venemous Apples wherwith They Poyson Theyr Arrowes”, in Rycharde Eden [i.e., Richard Eden], transl., The Decades of the Newe Worlde or West India, […], London: […] [Rycharde Jug for] Guilhelmi Powell, →OCLC, decade, folio 200, recto:

"But true it is that vvhen the oyle is ſpent, / The light goes out, and vveeke is throvvne away; […]" — 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 30, page 333:

"But novv vvee vvill ſpeake of the Continuance of Flames, ſuch as are vſed for Candles, Lamps, or Tapers; conſiſting of Inflammable Matters, and of a VVieke that prouoketh Inflammation. […] Triall vvas likevviſe made of ſeuerall Wickes; as of Ordinary Cotton; Sovving Thred; Ruſh; Silke; Stravv; and VVood." — 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “IV. Century. [Experiments in Consort, Touching the Continuance of Flame.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 369, page 99:

"[W]e may take notice of the Smoak that iſſues out of the VVeik of a Candle nevvly blovvn out; for vvhilſt the ſooty Corpuſcles retain their Bigneſe and Texture, they are able to offend the Noſtrils very much by their Stink; […]" — a. 1692 (date written), Robert Boyle, “Title XL. Of the Air in Reference to the Generation, Life and Health of Animals.”, in The General History of the Air, […], London: […] Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1692, →OCLC, page 247:

"And thus they spend / The little vvick of life's poor ſhallovv lamp, / In playing tricks vvith nature, giving lavvs / To diſtant vvorlds and trifling their ovvn." — 1785, William Cowper, “Book III. The Garden.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC, page 99:

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