1. The zone of burning gases and fine suspended matter associated with rapid combustion; a hot, glowing mass of burning gas or vapor. 2. The condition of active, blazing combustion: burst into flame.3. Something resembling a flame in motion, brilliance, intensity, or shape. 4. A violent or intense passion. 5.Informal A sweetheart. 6.Informal An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network.
VERB:
Inflected forms: flamed, flam·ing, flames
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To burn brightly; blaze. 2. To color or flash suddenly: cheeks that flamed with embarrassment.3.Informal To make insulting criticisms or remarks, as on a computer network, to incite anger.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To burn, ignite, or scorch (something) with a flame. 2.Informal To insult or criticize provokingly, as on a computer network. 3.Obsolete To excite; inflame.
PHRASAL VERB:
flame out To fail: Only a handful of companies have flamed out in the two decades since the birth of the [biotech] industry (Rhonda L. Rundle, Wall Street Journal April 6, 1994.)
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Anglo-Norman flaumbe, variant of Old French flambe, from flamble, from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma. See bhel-1 in Appendix I.