menorah
menorah Lexical Profile
menorah Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, consisting of eight main candleholders and a slightly separated helper candle known as the shamash.
"Every evening during the festival, the family gathered by the window to light another candle on the silver menorah."
A traditional seven-branched lampstand used in ancient Jewish worship, particularly in the biblical Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem, functioning as a primary symbol of Judaism.
"The Arch of Titus in Rome features a famous relief carving that depicts Roman soldiers carrying away the golden menorah from the Second Temple."
Word Nuance & Usage
While the term 'menorah' is widely used in English to refer to the nine-branched Hanukkah candelabrum, in strict Jewish terminology, the Hanukkah-specific version is called a 'hanukkiah', whereas a traditional Temple menorah has only seven branches.
• Rhymes for menorah
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew 'mĕnōrāh' (מְנוֹרָה), meaning 'lampstand' or 'candelabrum', ultimately derived from the Semitic root 'n-w-r' relating to light or fire.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.