flame

From Middle English flawme, flaume, flaumbe, 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; akin to Old English glēd (“ember”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlē- (“to shimmer, gleam, shine”).

• enPR: flām, IPA^(key): /fleɪm/

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• Rhymes: -eɪm

flame (countable and uncountable, plural flames)

1. The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:

     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 […].

   • 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:

     Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.

2. A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
   • (Can we find and add a quotation of Thackeray to this entry?)
3. (Internet) Intentionally insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger.
4. A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour.
   flame colour:  
5. (music, chiefly lutherie) 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.

6. Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     in a flame of zeal severe

   • (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope

     where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow

   • (Can we find and add a quotation of Coleridge to this entry?)

flame (third-person singular simple present flames, present participle flaming, simple past and past participle flamed)

1. To produce flames; to burn with a flame or blaze.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare

     The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again.

2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Macaulay

     He flamed with indignation.

3. (Internet, transitive, intransitive) To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody).

   I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup.

• flamer
• flaming

• flambé

flame (not comparable)

1. Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame.

• (reds) red; blood red, brick red, burgundy, cardinal, carmine, carnation, cerise, cherry, cherry red, Chinese red, cinnabar, claret, crimson, damask, fire brick, fire engine red, flame, flamingo, fuchsia, garnet, geranium, gules, hot pink, incarnadine, Indian red, magenta, maroon, misty rose, nacarat, oxblood, pillar-box red, pink, Pompeian red, poppy, raspberry, red violet, rose, rouge, ruby, ruddy, salmon, sanguine, scarlet, shocking pink, stammel, strawberry, Turkey red, Venetian red, vermillion, vinaceous, vinous, violet red, wine ^{(Category: en:Reds)}

• femal, fleam

• IPA^(key): /flam/
• Homophones: flament, flames

flame

1. first-person singular present indicative of flamer
2. third-person singular present indicative of flamer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of flamer
4. first-person singular present subjunctive of flamer
5. second-person singular imperative of flamer

From Old French flame.

flame

1. Alternative form of flawme

From Old French flamber.

flame

1. Alternative form of flawmen

From Latin flamma.

flame f (oblique plural flames, nominative singular flame, nominative plural flames)

1. flame
   • circa 1250, Rutebeuf, Ci encoumence la complainte d ou conte huede de nevers:

     Senz redouteir l'infernal flame

     Without fearing the infernal flame

• enflamer

• English: flame (borrowed)
• French: flamme