flame

[ fleym ]

/ fleɪm /

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See synonyms for: flame / flames / flaming 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR flame

1 fire.

See synonyms for flame on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of flame

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” (see -ule); (verb) Middle English flaumen, from Anglo-French flaum(b)er; Old French flamber, from Latin flammāre, derivative of flamma

synonym study for flame

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM flame

flamer, nounflameless, adjectiveflamelike, adjectiveoutflame, 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. 2022

How to use flame in a sentence

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
When I saw the fire in the restaurant, I ran down to the floor below, where I was trapped between flames above and below.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The younger brother would try everything in his power from a distance to subdue the roaring flames of passion.
Decoding Vincent Van Gogh’s Tempestuous, Fragile Mind|Nick Mafi|December 7, 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

Hot orange flames leap into the sky bringing with them the sickening, inescapable stench of death.
Rage Against the Ebola Crematorium|Abby Haglage|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You would not think it too much to set the whole province in flames so that you could have your way with this wretched child.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
At length only four or five flames remained, feebly wavering in their pools of melted wax.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
The entire city was burnt down, and upwards of 200,000 of the inhabitants perished in the flames.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Moodily he stood there, one hand on the high mantel shelf, one foot upon an andiron, his eyes upon the flames.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Let blue flames rise from the living sulphur and the sheep bleat loud as she feels the touch of the smoking sulphur.
The Religion of Ancient Rome|Cyril Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for flame

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 of flame

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

Scientific definitions for flame

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with flame

flame

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

flame

OTHER WORDS FOR flame

Origin of flame

synonym study for flame

OTHER WORDS FROM flame

Words related to flame

How to use flame in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flame

Derived forms of flame

Word Origin for flame

Scientific definitions for flame

Other Idioms and Phrases with flame