eternal flame

[ ih-tur-nl fleym ]

noun

1. a contained fire ignited ceremonially and kept burning, usually in a public place and as a perpetual memorial or symbol:

   On our trip to the United States we visited the grave of President John F. Kennedy, where there is an eternal flame.

   The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima features an eternal flame symbolizing the hope for a world free of nuclear weapons.

2. a fire ignited naturally or accidentally, sometimes burning underground, and fueled by deposits of coal or natural gas that keep it from going out:

   At the Burning Mountain in Australia, an eternal flame has been slowly burning underground for 6,000 years.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eternal flame¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Whenever she is at Liverpool's home ground, she visits the eternal flame memorial to think about all of those who lost their lives.

From BBC

Red carnations are placed by the Eternal Flame.

From BBC

I like Bobby — he was my favorite ballplayer to cover — and Bobby Bonilla Day is sort of like his eternal flame.

From Washington Times

During the ceremonial welcome, King Charles performed the re-kindling of the eternal flame using the Comite de la Flamme passed to him by Mr Macron.

From BBC

An eternal flame burns by a crypt containing the ashes of Holocaust victims to commemorate the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II.

From Washington Times