Standard candle

standard candle
    n 1: the basic unit of luminous intensity adopted under the
         Systeme International d'Unites; equal to 1/60 of the
         luminous intensity per square centimeter of a black body
         radiating at the temperature of 2,046 degrees Kelvin [syn:
         {candle}, {candela}, {cd}, {standard candle}]
    

Standard \Stand"ard\, a.
   1. Being, affording, or according with, a standard for
      comparison and judgment; as, standard time; standard
      weights and measures; a standard authority as to nautical
      terms; standard gold or silver.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence: Having a recognized and permanent value; as,
      standard works in history; standard authors.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Hort.)
      (a) Not supported by, or fastened to, a wall; as, standard
          fruit trees.
      (b) Not of the dwarf kind; as, a standard pear tree.
          [1913 Webster]

   {Standard candle}, {Standard gauge}. See under {Candle}, and
      {Gauge}.

   {Standard solution}. (Chem.) See {Standardized solution},
      under {Solution}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Candle \Can"dle\, n. [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L.
   candela a (white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. cand["e]re
   to be white. See {Candid}, and cf. {Chandler}, {Cannel},
   {Kindle}.]
   1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick
      composed of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and
      used to furnish light.
      [1913 Webster]

            How far that little candle throws his beams!
            So shines a good deed in a naughty world. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the
         wicks in the melted tallow, etc. ("dipped candles"), or
         by casting or running in a mold.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. That which gives light; a luminary.
      [1913 Webster]

            By these blessed candles of the night. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Candle nut}, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub ({Aleurites
      triloba}), a native of some of the Pacific islands; --
      socalled because, when dry, it will burn with a bright
      flame, and is used by the natives as a candle. The oil has
      many uses.

   {Candle power} (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp,
      or gas flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard
      candle.

   {Electric candle}, A modification of the electric arc lamp,
      in which the carbon rods, instead of being placed end to
      end, are arranged side by side, and at a distance suitable
      for the formation of the arc at the tip; -- called also,
      from the name of the inventor, {Jablockoff candle}.

   {Excommunication by inch of candle}, a form of
      excommunication in which the offender is allowed time to
      repent only while a candle burns.

   {Not worth the candle}, not worth the cost or trouble.

   {Rush candle}, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes,
      peeled except on one side, and dipped in grease.

   {Sale by inch of candle}, an auction in which persons are
      allowed to bid only till a small piece of candle burns
      out.

   {Standard candle} (Photom.), a special form of candle
      employed as a standard in photometric measurements;
      usually, a candle of spermaceti so constructed as to burn
      at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams, per hour.

   {To curse by bell, book and candle}. See under {Bell}.
      [1913 Webster]