eternal flame
Americannoun
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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.
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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.
Etymology
Origin of eternal flame
First recorded in 1590–1600
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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 ● Sep. 20, 2023
The leaders stood before wreaths placed around the memorial, which features an eternal flame and was draped with orange and yellow marigold garlands.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 10, 2023
At a memorial ceremony, Mr. Biden is expected to rekindle the eternal flame and lay a wreath.
From New York Times ● Jul. 13, 2022
He even opposed the eternal flame at JFK’s grave for its perpetual fuel cost.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 4, 2021
It reminded me of the eternal flame they’d put on John F. Kennedy’s grave that will never go out no matter what.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
