inflame
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to kindle or excite (passions, desires, etc.).
-
to arouse to a high degree of passion or feeling.
His harangue inflamed the rabble.
-
to incite or rouse, as to violence.
His words inflamed the angry mob to riot.
-
(of an emotion, as rage) to cause to redden or grow heated.
Uncontrollable rage inflamed his face.
-
to cause inflammation in.
Her eyes were inflamed with crying.
-
to raise (the blood, bodily tissue, etc.) to a morbid or feverish heat.
-
to set aflame, ablaze, or afire; set on fire.
-
to redden with or as with flames.
The setting sun inflames the sky.
verb (used without object)
-
to burst into flame; take fire.
-
to be kindled, as passion.
-
to become hot with passion, as the heart.
-
to become excessively affected with inflammation.
verb
-
to arouse or become aroused to violent emotion
-
(tr) to increase or intensify; aggravate
-
to produce inflammation in (a tissue, organ, or part) or (of a tissue, etc) to become inflamed
-
to set or be set on fire; kindle
-
(tr) to cause to redden
Related Words
Other Word Forms
- inflamedness noun
- inflamer noun
- inflamingly adverb
- reinflame verb
- uninflamed adjective
Etymology
Origin of inflame
First recorded in 1300–50; in- 2 + flame; replacing Middle English enflammen, from Middle French enflammer, from Latin inflammāre “to kindle”
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.
In reaction to Erdogan's comments, Somaliland's foreign ministry said that Turkey, which has in recent years become an important geopolitical player in the Horn of Africa, should refrain from inflaming regional tensions.
From BBC
Her approach, it was claimed, "inflames rather than calms a situation" and "creates a culture of fear and anxiety".
From BBC
IgAN causes the small filters in kidneys to become inflamed and excess protein in urine, known as proteinuria.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Walz, both Democrats, had urged the federal immigration authorities to leave the state to avoid inflaming tensions even more.
During a training session there, Gardner inflamed a groin injury that had plagued him for months.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
