Flame, n.
Etymology: [OE. flame, flaume, flaumbe, OF. flame, flambe, F. flamme, fr. L. flamma, fr. flamma, fr. flagrare to burn. See Flagrant, and cf. Flamneau, Flamingo.]
1. A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
2. Burning zeal or passion; elevated and noble enthusiasm; glowing imagination; passionate excitement or anger. "In a flame of zeal severe." Milton. Where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow. Pope. Smit with the love of sister arts we came, And met congenial, mingling flame with flame. Pope.
3. Ardor of affection; the passion of love. Coleridge.
4. A person beloved; a sweetheart. Thackeray.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Blaze; brightness; ardor. See Blaze. Flame bridge, a bridge wall. See Bridge, n., 5. -- Flame color, brilliant orange or yellow. B. Jonson. -- Flame engine, an early name for the gas engine. -- Flame manometer, an instrument, invented by Koenig, to obtain graphic representation of the action of the human vocal organs. See Manometer. -- Flame reaction (Chem.), a method of testing for the presence of certain elements by the characteristic color imparted to a flame; as, sodium colors a flame yellow, potassium violet, lithium crimson, boracic acid green, etc. Cf. Spectrum analysis, under Spectrum. -- Flame tree (Bot.), a tree with showy scarlet flowers, as the Rhododendron arboreum in India, and the Brachychiton acerifolium of Australia.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Flame, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaming.]
1. To burn with a flame or blaze; to burn as gas emitted from bodies in combustion; to blaze. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. Shak.
2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardor. He flamed with indignation. Macaulay.
Flame, v. t.
To kindle; to inflame; to excite. And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly. Spenser.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for flame; he lists it under burn, fire, light.
Where he writes about it:
Fire is always attended with light, as well as heat; blaze, flame, etc., designate the mingled light and heat of a fire. — from fire
A flame is both hot and luminous; if it contains few solid particles it will yield little light, tho it may afford intense heat, as in the case of a hydrogen-flame. — from light
A blaze is an extensive, brilliant flame. — from light
A flare is a wavering flame or blaze; a flash is a light that appears and disappears in an instant; as, a flash of lightning; the flash of gunpowder. — from light