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

On Saturday, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency in Apache County due to the growing flames. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 19 May 2025

The 28-year-old told People magazine at the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swim Launch Party in New York City that her former flames have been keeping a close eye on her steamy spread. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025

Verb

As a result, when the signal finally came, the flaming mail coach proved a fizzle rather than a rocket. —Joseph Patrick Kelly, The Conversation, 20 May 2025

There are giant explosions, brutal plane crashes in the jungle, shoot-outs in the desert, secret assassins, fist fights, flaming arrows, hand grenades, gruesome injuries and bullets which need extracting, and a more frenetic pace. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 18 May 2025

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

Rhymes for flame

• aim
• blame
• brame
• came
• claim
• dame
• fame
• frame
• game
• haim
• lame
• maim

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