verb / adjective
snuff
To extinguish a burning flame.
She snuffs out the candle before leaving the dining room.
Etymology
Snuff names the spent part of a candle wick. Removing or cutting off the burning wick supplied the verb for putting out the flame.
More examples
- A gust of wind snuffed out the lantern's flame.
- Use the candle snuffer to snuff the flame.
- He lowers a metal cap over the wick, snuffing out the flame.
Forms
snuff · snuffs · snuffed · snuffing
snuffer noun — A tool used to extinguish candle flames.
Similar words
- extinguish
- More formal; applies to both small flames and large fires.
- smother
- Specifically means putting out fire by blocking its air supply.