flame

[ fleym ]

noun

1. burning gas or vapor, as from wood or coal, that is undergoing combustion; a portion of ignited gas or vapor.

   Synonyms: fire

2. Often flames. the state or condition of blazing combustion:

   to burst into flames.

3. any flamelike condition; glow; inflamed condition.
4. brilliant light; scintillating luster.
5. bright coloring; a streak or patch of color.
6. flame color.
7. intense ardor, zeal, or passion.
8. Informal. an object of one's passionate love; sweetheart:

   He's taking out his new flame tonight.

9. Computer Slang. an angry, critical, or disparaging electronic message, as an online comment.

verb (used without object)

, flamed, flam·ing.

1. to burn with a flame or flames; burst into flames; blaze.
2. to glow like flame; shine brilliantly; flash.
3. to burn or burst forth with strong emotion; break into open anger, indignation, etc.
4. Computer Slang. to post an angry, critical, or disparaging electronic message, as an online comment.

verb (used with object)

, flamed, flam·ing.

1. to subject to the action of flame or fire.
2. to flambé.
3. Computer Slang. to insult or criticize angrily in an online post or comment.

verb phrase

1. 1. (of a jet engine) to cease to function due to an interruption of the fuel supply or to faulty combustion.
   2. to burst out in or as if in flames.

flame

/ fleɪm /

noun

1. a hot usually luminous body of burning gas often containing small incandescent particles, typically emanating in flickering streams from burning material or produced by a jet of ignited gas
2. often plural the state or condition of burning with flames

   to burst into flames

3. a brilliant light; fiery glow
4. 1. a strong reddish-orange colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      a flame carpet

5. intense passion or ardour; burning emotion
6. informal.
   a lover or sweetheart (esp in the phrase an old flame )
7. informal.
   an abusive message sent by electronic mail, esp to express anger or criticism of an internet user

verb

1. to burn or cause to burn brightly; give off or cause to give off flame
2. intr to burn or glow as if with fire; become red or fiery

   his face flamed with anger

3. intr to show great emotion; become angry or excited
4. tr to apply a flame to (something)
5. archaic.
   tr to set on fire, either physically or with emotion
6. informal.
   to send an abusive message by electronic mail

flame

/ flām /

1. The hot, glowing mixture of burning gases and tiny particles that arises from combustion. Flames get their light either from the fluorescence of molecules or ions that have become excited, or from the incandescence of solid particles involved in the combustion process, such as the carbon particles from a candle.

Derived Forms

• ˈflamelet, noun
• ˈflamer, noun
• ˈflameless, adjective
• ˈflamy, adjective
• ˈflameˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• flamer noun
• flameless adjective
• flamelike adjective
• outflame verb (used with object) outflamed outflaming
• pre·flame adjective
• under·flame noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flame¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (noun) Middle English flaume, from Anglo-French, variant of flaumbe; Old French flambe, earlier flamble, from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma “flame” ( -ule ); (verb) Middle English flaumen, from Anglo-French flaum(b)er; Old French flamber, from Latin flammāre, derivative of flamma

Word History and Origins

Origin of flame¹

C14: from Anglo-French flaume , from Old French flambe , modification of flamble , from Latin flammula a little flame, from flamma flame

Idioms and Phrases

see add fuel to the fire (flames) ; burst into (flames) ; fan the flames ; go up in flames ; shoot down (in flames) .

Synonym Study

Flame, blaze, conflagration refer to the light and heat given off by combustion. Flame is the common word, referring to a combustion of any size: the light of a match flame. Blaze usually denotes a quick, hot, bright, and comparatively large flame: The fire burst into a blaze. Conflagration refers to destructive flames which spread over a considerable area: A conflagration destroyed Chicago.

Example Sentences

And that is how the flame of democracy flickers out.

From Slate

Flame bars created the dancing firestorm behind the characters, augmented by practical visual effects from the actual burning of a replica set.

From Los Angeles Times

Kelly has done the same, writing about his grief in songs “Last November” and “Twin Flame.”

From Los Angeles Times

For 20 years, Judith Jamison has not just tended the flame, but fueled the dance company in ways that make it burn more brightly.

From Los Angeles Times

These products can have chemicals added to them that you wouldn’t want in your cooking utensils—like flame retardants created from bromine.

From Slate

Related Words

• blaze
• conflagration
• flare
• flash
• light
• spark
• wildfire