Candle wick

A candle wick or lamp wick is usually made of braided cotton that holds the flame of a candle or oil lamp. A candle wick works by capillary action, conveying ("wicking") the fuel to the flame. When the liquid fuel, typically melted candle wax, reaches the flame it then vaporizes and combusts.

In other words, the wick brings the liquified wax up into the flame to burn.
The candle wick influences how the candle burns.
Important characteristics of the wick include diameter, stiffness, fire-resistance, and tethering.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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