flame

[ fleym ]

/ fleɪm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flame ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Often flames. the state or condition of blazing combustion: to burst into flames.

any flamelike condition; glow; inflamed condition.

brilliant light; scintillating luster.

bright coloring; a streak or patch of color.

flame color.

intense ardor, zeal, or passion.

Informal. an object of one's passionate love; sweetheart: He's taking out his new flame tonight.

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

verb (used without object), flamed, flam·ing.

to burn with a flame or flames; burst into flames; blaze.

to glow like flame; shine brilliantly; flash.

to burn or burst forth with strong emotion; break into open anger, indignation, etc.

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

verb (used with object), flamed, flam·ing.

to subject to the action of flame or fire.

to flambé.

Computer Slang. to insult or criticize angrily in an online post or comment.

Verb Phrases

flame out,

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

Nearby words

flam, flambeau, flamborough head, flamboyant, flambé, flame, flame azalea, flame carbon, flame cell, flame color, flame cultivator

Origin of flame

1300–50; (noun) Middle English flaume < Anglo-French, variant of flaumbe; Old French flambe, earlier flamble < Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma flame (see -ule); (v.) Middle English flaumen < Anglo-French flaum(b)er; Old French flamber < Latin flammāre, derivative of flamma

SYNONYMS FOR flame

1 fire. 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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flame ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

flam·er, nounflame·less, adjectiveflame·like, adjectiveout·flame, verb (used with object), out·flamed, out·flam·ing.

pre·flame, adjectiveun·der·flame, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for flames

That was the extent of it during the peak of the flames, and the numbers that swooshed around in the press the next day.
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot|Shinan Govani|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Especially not when the display in question includes an angel falling from the sky in flames, surrounded by Biblical verses.
In Florida, ’Tis The Season for Satan|Jay Michaelson|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And bonus points for the school bus that burst into flames with the comic timing of a Simpsons gag.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Self Help’: A Grim Show Displays Its Comedy Streak, and A Major Reveal|Melissa Leon|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly, the screen cuts to FLAMES which engulf the word "COWARDS?!?"
Cliven Bundy’s Brokeback Mountain Moment|Olivia Nuzzi|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Another day, another Fox News segment stoking the flames of hate against Muslims.
Megyn Kelly’s Really Scary Muslim|Dean Obeidallah|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He took good care not to let the flames shoot up, so that the frantic girl would inhale them.
Andy at Yale|Roy Eliot Stokes
We could see her decks were in an awful mess and her stern was in flames.
Best Stories of the 1914 European War|Various
I have seen the flames increase when agitated by waving the torch; and when no one shook it, I have seen them die away.
The Amores, or Amours|Ovid
The noise was caused by the bamboos, which, as the flames reached them, exploded like fireworks.
The Mysterious Island|Jules Verne
Flames of anger scorched Geronimo's cheeks, and rage ate at his heart.
The Story of Geronimo|James Arthur Kjelgaard

British Dictionary definitions for flames

flame

/ (fleɪm) /

noun

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

(often plural) the state or condition of burning with flamesto burst into flames

a brilliant light; fiery glow

a strong reddish-orange colour
(as adjective)a flame carpet

intense passion or ardour; burning emotion

informal a lover or sweetheart (esp in the phrase an old flame)

informal an abusive message sent by electronic mail, esp to express anger or criticism of an internet user

verb

to burn or cause to burn brightly; give off or cause to give off flame

(intr) to burn or glow as if with fire; become red or fieryhis face flamed with anger

(intr) to show great emotion; become angry or excited

(tr) to apply a flame to (something)

(tr) archaic to set on fire, either physically or with emotion

informal to send an abusive message by electronic mail

Derived Forms

flamer, nounflameless, adjectiveflamelet, nounflamelike, adjective

flamy, adjective

Word Origin for flame

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

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

Science definitions for flames

flame

[ flām ]

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.

Idioms and Phrases with flames

flame

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