flames definition | Dictionary.com

flame

[fleym]

noun, verb, flamed, flam⋅ing.

–noun

1.	burning gas or vapor, as from wood or coal, that is undergoing combustion; a portion of ignited gas or vapor.

2.	Often, flames. the state or condition of blazing combustion: to burst into flames.

3.	any flamelike condition; glow; inflamed condition.

4.	brilliant light; scintillating luster.

5.	bright coloring; a streak or patch of color.

6.	flame color.

7.	intense ardor, zeal, or passion.

8.	Informal. an object of one's passionate love; sweetheart: He's taking out his new flame tonight.

9.	Computer Slang. an angry, critical, or disparaging electronic message, as an e-mail or newsgroup post.

–verb (used without object)

10.	to burn with a flame or flames; burst into flames; blaze.

11.	to glow like flame; shine brilliantly; flash.

12.	to burn or burst forth with strong emotion; break into open anger, indignation, etc.

13.	Computer Slang. to send an angry, critical, or disparaging electronic message.

–verb (used with object)

14.	to subject to the action of flame or fire.

15.	to flambé.

16.	Computer Slang. to insult or criticize angrily in an electronic message.

—Verb phrase

17.

flame out,

a.	(of a jet engine) to cease to function due to an interruption of the fuel supply or to faulty combustion.

b.	to burst out in or as if in flames.

Origin:
1300–50; (n.) ME flaume < AF, var. of flaumbe; OF flambe, earlier flamble < L flammula, dim. of flamma flame (see -ule ); (v.) ME flaumen < AF flaum(b)er; OF flamber < L flammāre, deriv. of flamma

Related forms:

flamer, noun

flameless, adjective

flamelike, adjective

Synonyms:
1. fire. Flame, blaze, conflagration refer to the light and heat given off by combustion. Flame is the common word, referring to a combustion of any size: the light of a match flame. Blaze usually denotes a quick, hot, bright, and comparatively large flame: The fire burst into a blaze. Conflagration refers to destructive flames which spread over a considerable area: A conflagration destroyed Chicago.

flame color

–noun

bright reddish-orange.

Also called flame.

Origin:
1600–10

Related forms:

flame-colored, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To flames

flame (flām)

The zone of burning gases and fine suspended matter associated with rapid combustion; a hot, glowing mass of burning gas or vapor.
The condition of active, blazing combustion: burst into flame.
Something resembling a flame in motion, brilliance, intensity, or shape.
A violent or intense passion.
Informal A sweetheart.
Informal An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network.

v. flamed, flam·ing, flames

v. intr.

To burn brightly; blaze.
To color or flash suddenly: cheeks that flamed with embarrassment.
Informal To make insulting criticisms or remarks, as on a computer network, to incite anger.

v. tr.

To burn, ignite, or scorch (something) with a flame.
Informal To insult or criticize provokingly, as on a computer network.
Obsolete To excite; inflame.

Phrasal Verb(s):
flame outTo fail: "Only a handful of companies have flamed out in the two decades since the birth of the [biotech] industry" (Rhonda L. Rundle).

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman flaumbe, variant of Old French flambe, from flamble, from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma; see bhel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]
flam'er n.

flame (flām) Pronunciation Key
The hot, glowing mixture of burning gases and tiny particles that arises from combustion. Flames get their light either from the fluorescence of molecules or ions that have become excited, or from the incandescence of solid particles involved in the combustion process, such as the carbon particles from a candle.

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