flame
verb
- to burn with a flame; fail
noun
- visible, gaseous part of a fire
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /fleɪm/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English flawme, blend of Old French flame and flambe, flamble, the first from Latin flamma, the second from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma, both from pre-Latin *fladma; Proto-Italic *flagmā, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to shimmer, gleam, shine”). Displaced native Old English līeġ.
- Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame.
noun
Etymology: From Middle English flawme, blend of Old French flame and flambe, flamble, the first from Latin flamma, the second from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma, both from pre-Latin *fladma; Proto-Italic *flagmā, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to shimmer, gleam, shine”). Displaced native Old English līeġ.
- The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
“Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth[…].”
“The flames will then be joined together next week at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, the home of the Paralympics, and the united flame will make its final journey to London for the opening of the 14th Paralympic Games next Wednesday.”
- A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
“I could copy out yards of rhapsody to Lord George Poynings, her old flame, in which she addressed him by the most affectionate names.”
- An aggressively insulting criticism or remark.
“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.”
- A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour.
“[M]arked by myriad clouds of every sunset-colour - flame, purple, pink, green, violet, and all the tints of gold.”
- A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour. flame:
- The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the curl.
“The cello has a two-piece back with a beautiful narrow flame.”
- Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
“in a flame of zeal severe”
“where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow”
- A variety of carnation.
“The Gardeners divide it into Five Claſſes, which they diſtinguiſh by the Name of Picketees, Painted Ladies, Beazarts, Flakes, and Flames: […] the Flames have a red Ground always ſtrip’d with black or very dark Colours.”
“Sic flow’rs o’ sorts ane seldom sees, / Flecks, flames, bussards an’ picketees, / Wi’ strong carnations, like young trees, / To face the entry; […]”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English flawmen, from Old French flamber, flammer.
- To produce flames; to burn with a flame or blaze.
“The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again.”
- To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
“He flamed with indignation.”
- To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody).
“I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup.”
“I wish you had the nerve to put your own name on that article, rather than logging into a public account to do it. I would have prefered^([sic]) to respond to you personally, rather than burden the net with my flaming, particularly since opinions like yours are best left ignored. But I feel I must respond to this one.”