Words that start with C

Candles used to be the main source of light for people long ago before light bulbs and electricity were invented. Candles are made out of a piece of string, or wick, which is surrounded by wax.
When the candle is first lit you set the wick on fire but once the wick is burning it melts the wax, so after that first few moments the candle burns the wax not the wick.

A cane is a curved stick with a handle at the top. Some people use a cane to help them walk.

A canister is a container, usually cylindrical, used to store or hold things like food. It often has a lid or seal to keep the contents safe and fresh.

For example, you might keep coffee in a kitchen canister or use a small gas canister for camping.

A cannon is a weapon that uses an explosive charge inside a heavy, metal barrel to force out a heavy metal ball called a cannonball at high speed. Cannonballs usually weighed around 19kg.
Cannons are rarely used today, however when they were commonplace they were extremely dangerous. They were particularly useful in battles between ships, as a cannonball could easily go through the side of a wooden ship, which would make it take on water and sink.

Canola is a member of the cabbage family and is grown for the oil in its seeds. Canola was origninally called rape, from the Latin word rapum which means turnip. The modern 'canola' is short for Canadian Oil Low Acid, as it was bred quite recently in Canada to be better tasting.

A canteen is a type of bottle you carry with you on a hike. You drink from your canteen when you are thirsty.

Canvas is a kind of heavy, plain woven fabric, usually made from cotton or linen. It is used to make sails, tents and other items that need to be made from strong fabric.
Artists like to stretch some canvas over a frame and use it to paint on. A piece of canvas prepared like this is also called a canvas, like the one in the picture.

A cap is a soft hat with the brim only at the front. Some people like to wear their caps backwards.

A capital is the official location of the government of a country or state. The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. The building in the picture is the White House, where the president lives.

A cappuccino is an Italian drink. It is made from an espresso coffee, the same amount of hot milk added to the coffee and then topped with frothed milk. The froth is often decorated with ground chocolate.