To arouse to passionate feeling or action: crimes that inflamed the entire community.
To make more violent; intensify: "inflamed to madness an already savage nature"(Robert Graves).
To cause (the skin) to redden or grow hot, as from strong emotion or stimulants.
To turn red or make glow: Great bonfires inflamed the night.
To produce inflammation in (a tissue or organ).
To set on fire; kindle.
v.
intr.
To become excited or aroused.
To be affected by inflammation.
To catch fire.
[Middle English enflaumen, from Old French enflammer, from Latin īnflammāre : in-, intensive pref.; see in-2 + flammāre, to set on fire (from flamma, flame; see bhel-1 in Indo-European roots).]
1340, "to set on fire with passion," fig. use of L. inflammare "to set on fire, kindle," from in- "in" + flammare "to flame," from flamma "flame" (see flame). Literal sense of "to cause to burn" first recorded in Eng. 1382. Inflammable "able to be set alight" is from 1605. Inflammatory "tending to rouse passions or anger" is from 1711. Inflammation "redness or swelling in a body part" is from 1533.
cause inflammation in; "The repetitive motion inflamed her joint"
2.
catch fire; "The dried grass of the prairie kindled, spreading the flames for miles" [syn: kindle]
3.
cause to start burning; "The setting sun kindled the sky with oranges and reds" [syn: kindle]
4.
arouse or excite feelings and passions; "The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor"; "The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world"; "Wake old feelings of hatred"
Main Entry: in·flame Pronunciation: in-'flAm Function: verb Inflected Forms: in·flamed; in·flam·ing transitive
senses : to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue) <inflame the sinuses> inflameintransitive senses : to become affected with inflammation
In*flame"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inflamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Inflaming.] [OE. enflamen, OF. enflamer, F. enflammer, L. inflammare, inflammatum; pref. in- in + flammare to flame, fr. flamma flame. See Flame.]1. To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn, flame, or glow. We should have made retreat By light of the inflamed fleet. --Chapman. 2. Fig.: To kindle or intensify, as passion or appetite; to excite to an excessive or unnatural action or heat; as, to inflame desire. Though more,it seems, Inflamed with lust than rage. --Milton. But, O inflame and fire our hearts. --Dryden. 3. To provoke to anger or rage; to exasperate; to irritate; to incense; to enrage. It will inflame you; it will make you mad. --Shak. 4. (Med.) To put in a state of inflammation; to produce morbid heat, congestion, or swelling, of; as, to inflame the eyes by overwork. 5. To exaggerate; to enlarge upon. [Obs.] A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes. --Addison. Syn: To provoke; fire; kindle; irritate; exasperate; incense; enrage; anger; excite; arouse.
In*flam*ma"tion\, n. [L. inflammatio: cf. F. inflammation. See Inflame.]1. The act of inflaming, kindling, or setting on fire; also, the state of being inflamed. "The inflammation of fat." --Wilkins. 2. (Med.) A morbid condition of any part of the body, consisting in congestion of the blood vessels, with obstruction of the blood current, and growth of morbid tissue. It is manifested outwardly by redness and swelling, attended with heat and pain. 3. Violent excitement; heat; passion; animosity; turbulence; as, an inflammation of the mind, of the body politic, or of parties. --Hooker.
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