/ fleɪm; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] a hot bright stream of burning gas that comes from sth that is on fire :
the tiny yellow flame of a match
The flames were growing higher and higher.
The building was in flames (= was burning) .
The plane burst into flame(s) (= suddenly began burning strongly) .
Everything went up in flames (= was destroyed by fire) .
—picture at fireplace , Bunsen burner
2.
[ U ] a bright red or orange colour :
a flame-red car
3.
[ C ] ( literary ) a very strong feeling :
a flame of passion
—see also old flame
4.
[ C ] ( informal ) an angry or insulting message sent to sb by email or on the Internet
•
IDIOMS
see fan verb
■ verb
1.
( literary ) to burn with a bright flame :
[ v ]
The logs flamed on the hearth.
( figurative )
Hope flamed in her.
[also v - adj ]
2.
( literary ) ( of a person's face ) to become red as a result of a strong emotion; to make sth become red :
[ v ]
Her cheeks flamed with rage.
[also v - adj , vn ]
3.
[ vn ] ( informal ) to send sb an angry or insulting message by email or on the Internet
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French flame (noun), flamer (verb), from Latin flamma a flame.