flame

1 of 3

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 3

verb (1)

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

inflame

3 of 3

verb (2)

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

variants or less commonly enflame

inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming

transitive verb

1

a

: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling

especially : to make angry

His speech inflamed the mob.

b

: to make more active, heated, or violent : intensify

inflame the imagination

insults serving only to inflame the feud

2

: to set on fire : kindle

3

: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement

a face inflamed with passion

4

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

intransitive verb

1

: to burst into flame

2

: to become excited or angered

3

: to become affected with inflammation

inflamer noun

Synonyms of flame

Noun

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

Verb (1)

• glow
• burn
• blaze

Verb (2)

• infuriate
• anger
• enrage
• irritate
• annoy

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 (1)

A fire flamed in the oven.

The sun flamed through the clouds.

color flaming in her cheeks

Verb (2)

His angry speech inflamed the mob.

ideas that inflame the imagination

His comments have inflamed an already tense situation.

inflaming the passions of the mob

a chemical that can inflame the skin

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In one of the fires on Friday, Aurora Fire Rescue rushed to extinguish the flames near East Dallas Street and Mansfield Avenue. — Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 25 June 2026

Lost to flames was its iconic steeple. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Verb

True insanity seldom results from a huge, flaming blowout when driving. — Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 24 June 2026

Footage on social media captured victims falling through flaming windows as first responders attempted to reach them. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

Verb

Ceremonies at the grave of the unknown soldier of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in Lviv have inflamed tensions with neighboring Poland. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 June 2026

The surge inflamed tensions with residents of the heavily Democratic district. — ABC News, 26 June 2026

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

Verb (2)

Middle English enflamen, from Anglo-French enflamer, from Latin inflammare, from in- + flamma flame

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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