blaze

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈblāz 

1

a

: an intensely burning fire

b

: intense direct light often accompanied by heat

the blaze of TV lights

c

: an active burning

especially : a sudden bursting forth of flame

2

: something that resembles the blaze of a fire: such as

a

: a dazzling display

a blaze of color

b

: a sudden outburst

a blaze of fury

went down in a blaze of glory

c

blazes plural : hell

go to blazes

as hot as blazes

blaze

2 of 5

verb (1)

blazed; blazing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to burn brightly

the sun blazed overhead

b

: to flare up : flame

inflation blazed up

2

: to be conspicuously brilliant or resplendent

fields blazing with flowers

3

: to shoot rapidly and repeatedly

—usually used with away

4

: to proceed extremely rapidly : blast

blazing down the highway

blaze

3 of 5

verb (2)

blazed; blazing

transitive verb

: to make public or conspicuous

blaze

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

a

: a usually white stripe down the center of the face of an animal

b

: a white or gray streak in the hair of the head

2

: a trail marker

especially : a mark made on a tree by chipping off a piece of the bark

blaze

5 of 5

verb (3)

blazed; blazing

transitive verb

1

: to mark (a trail) with blazes (see blaze entry 4 sense 2)

2

: to lead in some direction or activity

blaze new trails in education

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• agony
• burst
• ebullition
• eruption
• explosion
• fit
• flare
• flare-up
• flash
• flush
• gale
• gush
• gust
• outburst
• paroxysm
• spasm
• storm

Verb (1)

• burn
• combust
• flame
• glow

Verb (2)

• advertise
• announce
• annunciate
• blare
• blazon
• broadcast
• declare
• enunciate
• flash
• give out
• herald
• placard
• post
• proclaim
• promulgate
• publicize
• publish
• release
• sound
• trumpet

Examples of blaze in a Sentence

Noun (1)

she felt a blaze of resentment upon hearing that she had been passed over for promotion

temporarily blinded by the blaze of dozens of camera lights

Verb (1)

the house blazed for over three hours in the late-night fire

the spotlight blazed through my window

an extreme skier went blazing down the ski slope at a reckless pace

Verb (2)

the White House didn't waste a minute in blazing the lower unemployment figures

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sherwood’s revenge game A right-handed forward with blazing speed and a rocket of a shot scoring multiple goals in an Avs/Canucks matchup? —Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 17 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, there are two meteor showers to close out the year; the Geminids will be seen blazing in the night sky until the shower’s finality on December 21, while the Ursids will peak December 21-22, according to the American Meteor Society. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024

Noun

Meanwhile, investigators have not yet identified the direct cause of the massive fire at Notre Dame in April 2019, though many believe the blaze was ignited by accident. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English blase, from Old English blæse torch; probably akin to Old English bǣl fire — more at bald

Verb (2)

Middle English blasen, from Middle Dutch blāsen to blow; akin to Old High German blāst blast

Noun (2)

perhaps from Dutch or Low German bles; akin to Old Norse blesi white stripe on an animal and probably to Old English blæse torch

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1541, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (3)

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing blaze

• blaze a trail
• blaze orange

Kids Definition

blaze

1 of 5 noun

ˈblāz 

1

: a very strongly burning fire

2

: very bright direct light often accompanied by heat

the blaze of TV lights

3

: a sudden outburst

a blaze of flame

a blaze of fury

4

: a dazzling display

a blaze of autumn leaves

blaze

2 of 5 verb

blazed; blazing

1

a

: to burn brightly

b

: to flare up : flame

2

: to be noticeably brilliant

fields blazing with flowers

3

: to shoot rapidly and repeatedly

blaze

3 of 5 verb

blazed; blazing

: to make public : proclaim

blaze the news

blaze

4 of 5 noun

1

: a long white mark down the center of the face of an animal

2

: a mark made on a tree usually to leave a trail

blaze

5 of 5 verb

blazed; blazing

: to mark with blazes

blaze a trail

Etymology

Noun

Old English blæse "torch"

Verb

Middle English blasen "to make public," from early Dutch blāsen "to blow"

Noun

perhaps from Dutch or Low German bles "a white mark on an animal"

Medical Definition

blaze

noun

ˈblāz 

: a white or gray streak in the hair of the head