tea light

noun

variants or less commonly tealight

ˈtē-ˌlīt 

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

Word History

Etymology

so called from the use of such candles to keep a pot of tea hot

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above