flame

1 of 2

noun

ˈflām 

1

: the glowing gaseous part of a fire

2

a

: a state of blazing combustion

the car burst into flame

b

: a condition or appearance suggesting a flame or burning: such as

(1)

: burning zeal or passion

(2)

: a strong reddish-orange color

3

: brilliance, brightness

4

: sweetheart sense 2

5

: the memory, reputation, or beliefs of a deceased person

broadly : memory

keeper of the flame

6

: an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message

flame

2 of 2

verb

flamed; flaming

intransitive verb

1

: to burn with a flame : blaze

2

a

: to burst or break out violently or passionately

flaming with indignation

b

: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message

3

: to shine brightly : glow

color flaming up in her cheeks

transitive verb

1

: to send or convey by means of flame

flame a message by signal fires

2

: to treat or affect with flame: such as

a

: to sear, sterilize, or destroy by fire

b

: flambé

3

: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message to or about

flamer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• beloved
• darling
• dear
• hon
• honey
• love
• squeeze [slang]
• sweet
• sweetheart
• sweetie
• sweetie pie
• truelove

Verb

• blaze
• burn
• combust
• glow

Examples of flame in a Sentence

Noun

the flame of a candle

We built a fire and roasted marshmallows over the flames.

They tried to put out the fire, but the flames grew higher.

The engine burst into flame.

Verb

A fire flamed in the oven.

The sun flamed through the clouds.

color flaming in her cheeks

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Waking up to flames, the Moreno family rushed to evacuate their house, but according to Fox affiliate KDFW, 16-year-old Jonathan Moreno, realized that his 2-year-old sister Camila was still inside. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

The mellow vibes were immediately replaced by flames filling up all the screens, and Mejía changing into an all-black Stormtrooper-esque getup with a new guitar that shot fire out of its headstock. —Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2024

Verb

Facebook, Yik Yak, Twitter, Twitch—each had a sunny, expansive phase, followed by a descent into flaming, catfishing, and troll wars. —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024

Margaret Stewart, a public information officer with the Los Angeles Fire Department, said the large crowd and vehicles were packed tightly, and firefighters struggled to reach the flaming vehicle. —Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flaume, flaumbe, from Anglo-French flame (from Latin flamma) & flambe, flamble, from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma flame; akin to Latin flagrare to burn — more at black entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing flame

• eternal flame
• flame cell
• flame out
• flame photometer
• flame-retardant
• flame stitch
• flame tree
• pre-flame

Kids Definition

flame

1 of 2 noun

ˈflām 

1

: the glowing gas that makes up part of a fire

2

: a state of burning brightly

the car burst into flame

a building in flames

3

: a condition or appearance suggesting a flame

4

: the person one is in love with : sweetheart

an old flame

5

: a hostile or rude electronic message

sent me a flame by email

flame

2 of 2 verb

flamed; flaming

1

: to burn with a flame : blaze

2

: to burst or break out violently

flaming with anger

3

: to shine brightly

4

: to treat or affect by flame or fire

especially : to sterilize by a flame

5

: to send a hostile or rude electronic message to or about

Medical Definition

flame

transitive verb

ˈflām 

flamed; flaming

: to cleanse or sterilize by fire