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inflame

[in-fleym]
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verb (used with object), in·flamed, in·flam·ing.
  1. to kindle or excite (passions, desires, etc.).
  2. to arouse to a high degree of passion or feeling: His harangue inflamed the rabble.
  3. to incite or rouse, as to violence: His words inflamed the angry mob to riot.
  4. (of an emotion, as rage) to cause to redden or grow heated: Uncontrollable rage inflamed his face.
  5. to cause inflammation in: Her eyes were inflamed with crying.
  6. to raise (the blood, bodily tissue, etc.) to a morbid or feverish heat.
  7. to set aflame, ablaze, or afire; set on fire.
  8. to redden with or as with flames: The setting sun inflames the sky.
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verb (used without object), in·flamed, in·flam·ing.
  1. to burst into flame; take fire.
  2. to be kindled, as passion.
  3. to become hot with passion, as the heart.
  4. to become excessively affected with inflammation.
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Also enflame.

Origin of inflame

1300–50; in-2 + flame; replacing Middle English enflammen < Middle French enflammer < Latin inflammāre to kindle
Related formsin·flam·ed·ness [in-fley-mid-nis] /ɪnˈfleɪ mɪd nɪs/, nounin·flam·er, nounin·flam·ing·ly, adverbre·in·flame, verb, re·in·flamed, re·in·flam·ing.un·in·flamed, adjective

Synonym study

1–3. See incite. 7. See kindle1.

Antonyms

2. cool, soothe.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

igniteagitatedisturbrouseembitterworseninfuriateexacerbateenrageroilrilearouseirritateincensekindleprovokeintensifystimulatefomentannoy

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British Dictionary definitions for inflame

inflame

verb
  1. to arouse or become aroused to violent emotion
  2. (tr) to increase or intensify; aggravate
  3. to produce inflammation in (a tissue, organ, or part) or (of a tissue, etc) to become inflamed
  4. to set or be set on fire; kindle
  5. (tr) to cause to redden
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Derived Formsinflamer, nouninflamingly, adverb
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

Word Origin and History for inflame

v.

mid-14c., "to set on fire with passion," from Latin inflammare "to set on fire, kindle," figuratively "to rouse, excite," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + flammare "to flame," from flamma "flame" (see flame (n.)). Literal sense of "to cause to burn" first recorded in English late 14c.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper