beacon vs candle

beacon

verb
  • To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine. 

  • To furnish with a beacon or beacons. 

  • To act as a beacon. 

noun
  • That which gives notice of danger, or keeps people on the correct path. 

  • An electronic device that broadcasts a signal to nearby portable devices, enabling smartphones etc. to perform actions when in physical proximity to the beacon. 

  • A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning. 

  • A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers. 

  • A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners. 

  • A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels of danger; also a signal mark on land. (FM 55-501) 

candle

verb
  • To check (an item, such as an envelope) by holding it between a light source and the eye. 

  • To dry (greenware) prior to the firing cycle, setting the kiln at 200° Celsius until all water is removed from the greenware. 

  • To observe the growth of an embryo inside (an egg), using a bright light source. 

noun
  • A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin. 

  • A fast-growing, light-colored, upward-growing shoot on a pine tree in the spring. As growth slows in summer, the shoot darkens and is no longer conspicuous. 

  • The protruding, removable portion of a filter, particularly a water filter. 

How often have the words beacon and candle occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )