wick

Everyday

1. A wick is the string in the middle of a candle or the strip in an oil lamp that you light; it soaks up melted wax or oil to keep the flame burning. tree →
2. To wick (away) is to draw water or sweat away, as some sports clothes do. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, a candle wick shows capillary action: liquid wax climbs up the wick to the flame. In safety, a long wick makes a big flame; candles must not be left unattended. In British slang, «to get on someone's wick» means to annoy them. Phrases: «trim the wick», «candle wick», «get on someone's wick».

Examples

• Light the wick carefully with a long match. tree →
• Melted wax climbs up the wick and feeds the flame. tree →
• Trim the wick so the flame is small. tree →
• The candle went out when the wick burned down. tree →
• These sports socks wick sweat away from your feet. tree →
• In a science test, water climbed up a paper wick. tree →

Note

Countable noun, plural wicks. Not the same as «wicked» (very bad, or in slang very good). In science, the wick works by capillary action.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Isaiah says the servant of God will not put out a dimly burning wick, a picture of gentleness to the weak. Tradition reads it as the quality of a just leader. In the primary lessons: In science lessons, a candle wick shows capillary action: liquid wax climbs up the wick to the flame. In safety, a long wick makes a big flame; candles must not be left unattended. In British slang, «to get on someone's wick» means to annoy them. Phrases: «trim the wick», «candle wick», «get on someone's wick».

Examples

• A bruised reed shall he not break, and the dimly burning wick shall he not quench; he shall make the right to go forth according to the truth. (Prophets ISA.42.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power — they lie down together, they shall not rise, they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick: (Prophets ISA.43.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable noun, plural wicks. Not the same as «wicked» (very bad, or in slang very good). In science, the wick works by capillary action.