What does "flame" mean?
The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
Flame
/fleɪm/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
- Grammar: flame is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: fire, admiration, adoration, affection.
- Useful contrasts: apathy, compliment, douse.
- Usage evidence: The candle's flame is flickering in the soft breeze.
How to use "flame"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "flame" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "flame" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "flame" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "flame" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "flame" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "fire" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "flame", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat. countable, uncountable
"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[…]."
- 2 the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke wordnet
- 3 A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair. countable, uncountable
"I could copy out yards of rhapsody to Lord George Poynings, her old flame, in which she addressed him by the most affectionate names."
- 4 An aggressively insulting criticism or remark. Internet, countable, dated, uncountable
"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."
- 5 A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour. countable, uncountable
"[M]arked by myriad clouds of every sunset-colour - flame, purple, pink, green, violet, and all the tints of gold."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour. flame:; flame countable, uncountable
- 7 The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the curl. countable, uncountable
"The cello has a two-piece back with a beautiful narrow flame."
- 8 Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger. countable, uncountable
"in a flame of zeal severe"
- 9 A variety of carnation. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"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."
Verb
- 1 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."
- 2 criticize harshly, usually via an electronic medium wordnet
- 3 To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
"He flamed with indignation."
- 4 be in flames or aflame wordnet
- 5 To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody). Internet, ambitransitive
"I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 shine with a sudden light wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame. not-comparable
Antonyms
Example
"The candle's flame is flickering in the soft breeze."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "flame"?
Common synonyms include: fire, admiration, adoration, affection, agape, amor.
How do you use "flame" in a sentence?
The candle's flame is flickering in the soft breeze.
How do you pronounce "flame"?
Pronounced /fleɪm/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
From Middle English flawmen, from Old French flamber, flammer.