I. ˈflām noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English flaume, flambe, from Middle French flame, flamme (from Old French, from Latin flamma ) & Middle French flambe, from Old French, alteration of flamble, from Latin flammula small flame, diminutive of Latin flamma flame; akin to Latin flagrare to burn — more at black
1. : the glowing gaseous part of a fire : a body of gas or vapor that gives off energy usually in the form of light and heat as a result of a rapid chemical reaction between a combustible material and air, oxygen or other oxidizing agent, that may be luminous, yellow, and smoky if it contains suspended incandescent particles (as of carbon in the case of a candle) or variously colored if certain elements or their compounds are present or predominantly nonluminous, bluish, and hotter as the proportion of air or oxygen in the burning mixture is increased, and that when nonluminous (as produced by a Bunsen burner) typically shows a bright inner cone constituting the flame front where the combustion starts and separating the incoming premixed fuel gas and air from a pale outer cone where the excess of fuel gas reacts with the oxygen of the surrounding air
the flame of a gas stove
flames from the burning log
the flame in a rocket motor
— see oxidizing flame , reducing flame
2.
a. : a state of blazing combustion
burst into flame
b. : a condition or appearance suggesting a flame (as a light ray)
c. : brilliance , brightness
when the moon begins to show her silver flame — H.W.Longfellow
3. : burning zeal or passion : elevated and noble enthusiasm
a flame of righteous indignation filled him with zeal
4. : a person beloved : sweetheart
one of her old flames
5. : something (as an ornament, streak, or patch) resembling a flame in shape or color
6. : a strong reddish orange that is yellower and paler than poppy or paprika and yellower and lighter than flame red — compare fiery red , fire red
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English flaumen, flamben to flame, shine, baste, from Middle French flamer, flammer to flame (from Old French, from Latin flammare, from flamma flame) & Middle French flamber to flame, from Old French, from flambe flame — more at flame (n.)
intransitive verb
1. : to burn with a flame or blaze : burn like gas emitted from bodies in combustion : burst into flame : blaze
the overheated fat flamed up suddenly
2. : to burst forth like flame : break out in violence of passion
he flamed with indignation — T.B.Macaulay
3.
a. : to seem or move like a flame : shine brightly
the sun's rays flamed in the window
b. : to dart or flicker like a flame
eyes flaming furiously
transitive verb
1. : to send or convey by means of flame
the comet flamed a warning of dire portent
a message could be flamed by signal fires from one village to the next
2. obsolete
a. : to consume by burning : burn
b. : kindle , inflame , excite
3. : to treat or affect with flame: as
a. : to cleanse with or sterilize by fire
flame the lip of each culture tube
b. : to dress food with flaming brandy or other liquor
c. : to sear and destroy (as weeds) with flame (as by use of a flamethrower)
4. : to brighten with or as if with flame
the fireplace flamed the opposite wall
: give a burning appearance to
the setting sun flamed the western sky
Synonyms: see blaze
III. noun
1. : the memory, reputation, or beliefs of a deceased person ; broadly : memory
keeper of the flame
2.
[ flame , verb (herein)]
: an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message
IV. intransitive verb
: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message
transitive verb
: to send an angry, hostile, or abusive electronic message to or about