Tinder

Tinder refers to any easily combustible material used to start a fire. It must ignite quickly from a spark or a small flame and sustain combustion long enough to ignite larger pieces of fuel. Historically, tinder often consisted of dried plant matter like leaves, grasses, or shredded bark. Modern options include commercially available fire starters, petroleum-based products, or treated cotton. The quality of tinder is crucial for successful fire-starting, especially in adverse conditions like wind or dampness.

Tinder meaning with examples

• The survivalist carefully gathered dry leaves and twigs, creating a nest of fine tinder. He struck the flint and steel, hoping to coax a spark to ignite his carefully prepared tinder, signaling warmth and safety. The first few sparks were unsuccessful. Finally, a spark landed just right, and the tinder began to smolder, ultimately catching fire, providing the base for a blazing campfire.
• Before striking the match, the hiker meticulously prepared a small pile of commercially produced tinder. The tinder was specifically designed to be water resistant. He held the match to the tinder. The tinder quickly caught fire, providing a reliable base to add larger pieces of kindling. Within minutes, a roaring fire kept them warm and roasted their marshmallows.
• The frontiersman knew that without proper tinder, he couldn't survive the harsh winter. He spent hours carefully scraping the inner bark of a birch tree, creating a fine, fluffy tinder ideal for catching a spark. This meticulous preparation was crucial, as a single successful fire could mean the difference between life and death in the unforgiving wilderness environment.
• She nervously set up a romantic candlelit scene, carefully arranging the wicks and surrounding them with decorative tinder. The scented tinder emitted a lovely fragrance. She imagined their meeting. Her tinder was the sparks of conversation, her heart was the burning flame, and she felt the anticipation for his arrival like the kindling.
• Although the firepit was filled with logs, the park ranger stressed the importance of a small tinder bundle, consisting of wood shavings, to assist with the ignition. This tinder, when combined with the carefully placed kindling, served as the initial fuel source to start the blaze. This created a chain reaction leading to the full combustion of the large logs.