Candle count (3)
I believe the answer is:
age
'candle count' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for age that I've seen before include "16/18 [INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION]" , "Get older" , "Very long time" , "How long something has existed" , "Mature, grow in years" .)