tea light
noun
variants
or less commonly tealight
or tea light candle
or tealight candle
plural tea lights also tealights or tea light candles or tealight candles
: a small cylindrical candle that is usually less than 1 inch in height and that is usually set in a holder (as of metal or plastic)
Tiny tea lights float on water in the tub in the darkened bathroom.—Jura Koncius
We like this ceramic fondue pot that uses a simple tea light candle to keep the cheese melty and delicious.—Holly Hanchey
also
: a battery-operated artificial candle of similar size and shape
You could create a whole miniature village of houses, each one with a battery-powered tealight inside. —Emily Dawe
—sometimes hyphenated before another noun … clever tea-light holders that feature a slot to accommodate a match. —Rob Walker
Cite this Entry
“Tea light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tea%20light. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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