flame
Pluralflames
Pluralflames
- 1
- 2
- 3Strong, burning feelings like passion, excitement, or anger.
Like a fire burning inside you when you feel something very strongly.
A flame of anger rose in her chest when she heard the news.
Her speech lit a flame of hope in the crowd.
UsageSay a flame of hope or the flame of anger.
Similarfire, passion, spark, fervor, ardor
Oppositeapathy, indifference
Note
- 4A person you love during a short but very passionate romance.
Like a fire that burns bright but does not last long.
She met an old flame at the reunion last weekend.
He was just a summer flame, nothing serious.
UsageSay an old flame for someone you once loved.
Similarlover, sweetheart, crush, love, beloved
Note
- 5Having a bright reddish orange-gold color, like fire.
Like the bright orange-red you see in a fire.
She wore a flame dress to the party.
The flame curtains brightened the whole room.
Similarfiery
Less common meanings
- 6To post a mean or hurtful message attacking someone online.
Like shouting insults at someone, but in writing online.
Angry users started to flame him for his careless comment.
People flame each other constantly in that forum.
UsagePeople say someone got flamed.
Similarattack, slam, savage, blast, roast
Oppositepraise
Note
- 7A mean, insulting message or comment meant to attack someone.
Like a written insult shouted at someone online.
His post drew an angry flame from a stranger.
Flames are, unfortunately, a fact of USENET life. It's a rare USENET regular who hasn't been shaken to the foundations with anger at something some jerk has posted.
1995, Paul McFedries, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Usenet NewsgroupsHere, flames means angry, insulting messages posted online to attack someone.Similarinsult, tirade, rant, attack, diatribe
Note
- 8To suddenly feel or show strong emotion, like anger or passion.
Like a fire that suddenly bursts up when you add more fuel.
His anger flamed up when he saw the broken window.
Her face went red as her anger began to flame.
UsageSay someone flamed with anger, or anger flamed up.
Similarflare, blaze, erupt, burn
Note
- 9A bright reddish orange-gold color, like that of fire.
Like the color of a campfire glowing in the dark.
The sunset turned the sky a deep flame.
She painted the wall a warm flame.
Note
- 10A kind of carnation, a colorful garden flower.
Note
- 11The wavy light-and-dark pattern in wood used to make instruments.
Showing meanings only.
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Origins
It came through Old French from Latin "flamma," meaning flame.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Flame came through Old French from Latin flamma. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin flamma means flame. en.wiktionary.org
It started as the Old French word flamber. In Middle English it became flawmen.