flame

1 of 2

noun

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
4
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
3
: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message to or about
flamer noun

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
The wreckage was too much and the van burst into flames. Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2024 Police evacuated the surrounding homes near the trailer as it was reportedly engulfed in flames and spreading to a fourth trailer. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Neither did other officials who may have fanned the flames before the fact but took no active role in the rioting on January 6. The Editors, National Review, 5 Mar. 2024 More big stories Two people were seriously injured after a Tesla flies off the freeway overpass in Los Feliz, and bursts into flames. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Crews with the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department extinguished the flames and found the bodies of an 85-year-old from White Bear Lake and a 65-year-old from Baytown Township. Brie Stimson, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024 First, the flames came storming across the vistas of the Texas Panhandle, burning through the grassy plains and scrub land of the region’s cattle ranches. Sean Murphy, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2024 When the flames died down three days after the uprising began, at least 18 people were dead, 400 were injured and property damage exceeded more than $100 million. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024 Located in northern Mississippi’s Carroll County, the small Mississippi John Hurt Museum was found engulfed in flames early Wednesday morning, and the building has been reduced to ash. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
If the absurd layers of this film aren't enough to pique interest, any film that includes Pitt slicing flying, flaming vampires with a massive scythe is worth a watch. Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023 In the books, this is a giant epic flaming sword fight between Ishamael and Rand, projected like a Pink Floyd laser light show onto the clouds above Falme. Andrew Cunningham & Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 6 Oct. 2023 The golden rooster is an exception, having been reimagined in the style of a phoenix with flaming wings by the chief architect of the reconstruction, Philippe Villeneuve. Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 In a symbol of resilience and renewal, a new golden rooster, reimagined as a phoenix with flaming feathers, was installed atop the spire in December, marking the cathedral’s rise from the ashes. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 After performing a thrilling qualifiers performance — complete with flaming knives at the tip of Emily's skates — the siblings were stolen by Mel B with her Golden Buzzer. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024 In cities around the country protesters set fire to government buildings, blocked roads with overturned vehicles and flaming barricades, looted buildings and attempted to stage a sit-in in front of the prime minister’s office. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024 Runners and bussers carry out the intricate footwork of service: bending down to adjust a fish knife, raising a silver cloche, ironing a crease out of a starchy white tablecloth, holding a silver ladle high in the air as a blue trickle of flaming rum pours down on a wedge of sticky toffee pudding. Pete Wells, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 The driver had already been removed from the flaming vehicle by passing motorists when first responders arrived at the interstate’s northbound exit onto Pulaski Highway in Baltimore’s Pulaski Industrial Area just before 1 p.m., the agency said. Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flame.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of flame was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near flame

Cite this Entry

“Flame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flame. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flame

1 of 2 noun
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 e-mail

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
flamed; flaming
: to cleanse or sterilize by fire

More from Merriam-Webster on flame

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