# flame

Pronunciation: say "FLAYM" /fleɪm/

## Noun

1. The glowing, visible part of a fire: a stream of burning gas that gives off light and heat.
   - Simple: The bright, hot light you see when something burns.
   - _The flame from the welding torch burned a brilliant blue._
   - _Firefighters battled the flames late into the night._
3. Intense zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger that burns within a person.
   - Simple: Strong, burning feelings like passion, excitement, or anger.
   - _The flame of revolution spread through the crowd._
   - _Years later, the flame of ambition still drove him._
4. A romantic partner in a passionate affair that usually does not last long.
   - Simple: A person you love during a short but very passionate romance.
   - _An old flame of hers showed up unexpectedly at the wedding._
   - _She still trades holiday cards with a college flame who lives overseas._
9. A brilliant reddish orange-gold color resembling that of fire.
   - Simple: A bright reddish orange-gold color, like that of fire.
   - _The autumn leaves blazed in shades of flame and gold._
   - _She chose flame for the front door, a warm color between red and orange._

## Verb

2. To produce flames; to burn with a visible blaze.
   - Simple: To burn and give off bright fire that you can see.
   - _The dry brush flamed up the moment the ember touched it._
   - _Spilled fuel can flame the instant it meets a spark._
6. To post a destructively critical or abusive message attacking someone, typically online.
   - Simple: To post a mean or hurtful message attacking someone online.
   - _Commenters flamed the author mercilessly after the controversial post._
   - _Trolls will flame anyone who disagrees with them._
8. To burst out suddenly, like fire, in violent passion or kindled zeal.
   - Simple: To suddenly feel or show strong emotion, like anger or passion.
   - _He felt jealousy flame inside him as he watched them dance together._
   - _Her indignation flamed at the unfair accusation._

## Adjective

5. Having the vivid reddish orange-gold hue of a flame.
   - Simple: Having a bright reddish orange-gold color, like fire.
   - _Along the road, the maple leaves turned flame and gold._
   - _His flame scarf stood out against the gray coat._

## Noun

7. An aggressively insulting criticism or remark, especially one posted online. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A mean, insulting message or comment meant to attack someone.
   - _Her review provoked a vicious flame from a loyal fan._
   - _The thread descended into a series of flames and counterattacks._
10. A cultivated variety of carnation grown as a garden flower. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A kind of carnation, a colorful garden flower.

## Other meanings

- (noun) The contrasting light and dark figure in wood prized for stringed instrument making, also called the curl.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 3–5, 7, 9–10** — From Middle English "flawme," a blend of Old French "flame" and "flambe." Both trace back to Latin "flamma" (and its diminutive "flammula"), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shimmer, gleam, shine." It replaced the native Old English word "līeġ."
**Meanings 2, 6, 8** — From Middle English "flawmen," from Old French "flamber" or "flammer."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/flame (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).