A candelabrum is a decorative stand that holds multiple candles, usually three or more. Picture an elegant branched holder, often made of silver, brass, or bronze, with arms extending from a central stem, each arm supporting a candle. The word comes from Latin and describes these multi-branched candleholders that have lit homes, palaces, and places of worship for thousands of years.

Before electric lights, candelabra (that's the plural form) were practical necessities that also showed wealth and taste. A grand dining table might feature silver candelabra with five or seven branches, casting warm light across an important meal. Today, people use them mostly for special occasions or decoration, though they still appear in religious ceremonies and formal dinners.

You might confuse a candelabrum with a candlestick, but there's a key difference: a candlestick holds just one candle, while a candelabrum holds several. One famous candelabrum in religious history is the menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum that has symbolized Judaism for over 2,000 years.

When you see an ornate, branching candleholder in a museum, historic home, or old movie, you're likely looking at a candelabrum, an object that once turned simple candlelight into something both beautiful and grand.