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View synonyms for flame

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. intense ardor, zeal, or passion.
  7. Informal. an object of one's passionate love; sweetheart:

    He's taking out his new flame tonight.

  8. 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. (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
    1. a strong reddish-orange colour
    2. ( as adjective )

      a flame carpet

  4. intense passion or ardour; burning emotion
  5. informal.
    a lover or sweetheart (esp in the phrase an old flame )
  6. informal.
    an abusive message sent by electronic mail, esp to express anger or criticism of an internet user
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.


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Derived Forms

  • ˈflamelet, noun
  • ˈflamer, noun
  • ˈflameless, adjective
  • ˈflamy, adjective
  • ˈflameˌlike, adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Example Sentences

We used it to prepare a few rib eyes, and the virtual temperature controls were helpful to get just the right amount of heat and flame out of our wood.

Stoichiometric flames are the Goldilocks variety, with just the right amount of fuel for complete combustion.

Replacing the flammable liquid in lithium-ion batteries would tame their risk of flame.

The latter, however, was successful in mitigating the danger by putting out the flames.

Launching rice and its fixings allows a chef to cook it over really hot flames without burning.

Hatuey asked the religious man holding the flame if indeed any Christians were in heaven.

An orange blossom of flame exploded on our screens as a new reality dawned.

What if it was the divine being who was a symbol for the original object of worship: the flame?

That is, until a rough-tongued Scotsman rekindled the flame.

According to their friend, producer/filmmaker Choke No Joke, it was over a mutual flame.

Like many another cavalier, he had a flame in every country, or rather, in every town which he visited.

The very soil in which it grew must be burned out with the flame of avenging justice.

The bushes seemed to burst into smoke and flame, and then came a crashing volley in return.

A fiery intensity of light lay over it, as though any moment it must burst into sheets of flame.

It is very combustible, burns with a pale blue flame, and is converted into water.

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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.

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