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.

The entire building was in flames. [= was on fire]

The cabin went up in flames. [= was destroyed by fire]

b

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

(1)

: burning zeal or passion

the flames of love

spread the flames of war

(2)

: a strong reddish-orange color

3

: brilliance, brightness

… the flame of the stars.

—Joseph Conrad

4

: sweetheart sense 2

a former flame

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

—often used with up

Grease left heating in the pan flamed up suddenly.

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

What would Emily Post advise me to do? Flame the … scumbag right back?

—John Seabrook

flamer noun

Synonyms of flame

Noun

• sweetheart
• darling
• dear
• sweetie
• love
• sweet
• lover
• girlfriend
• beloved

Verb

• glow
• burn
• blaze

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

El Fogón Giant pots filled with soups, stews, and curries simmer over open flames at El Fogón, a local staple in downtown San Pedro known for using age-old cooking techniques to craft flavorful Belizean dishes like beef stew and fish soup paired with coconut rice. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2025

Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to other homes in the area and the cause of the fire is under investigation by both the county's Office of the Fire Marshal and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's Arson & Bomb unit. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025

Verb

The thing in the sky was gigantic, a flaming match-head that was nearly too bright to look at. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025

Repressed resentment and grievances explode when his professional success takes a backseat to hers, and passive-aggressive zingers and hard feelings turn their relationship into a flaming hot mess. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Nov. 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