flame

Etymology

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.

noun

1. The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
   Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4
2. A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
3. (Internet, somewhat dated) An aggressively insulting criticism or remark.
   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. 1995, Paul McFedries, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Usenet Newsgroups, Alpha Books, page 39
4. (color) A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour.
   [M]arked by myriad clouds of every sunset-colour - flame, purple, pink, green, violet, and all the tints of gold. 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, published 1993, page 73
5. (music, chiefly lutherie) The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the curl.
   The cello has a two-piece back with a beautiful narrow flame.
6. Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
   Till charming Florio, born to conquer, came And touch'd the fair one with an equal flame 1834, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Julia
7. (obsolete, botany) A variety of carnation.
   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. 1718, Richard Bradley, “Part II. Chapter II: Of Perannual Flowers, the talleſt Blowers. Sect IX. Of the Carnation or July-Flower […]”, in New Improvements of Planting and Gardening, Both Philoſophical and Practical […], 2nd edition, London: W. Mears, page 82
   Sic flow’rs o’ sorts ane seldom sees, / Flecks, flames, bussards an’ picketees, / Wi’ strong carnations, like young trees, / To face the entry; […] 1812, Peter Forbes, “On going to see a nobleman’s gardener in the neighbourhood”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, Edinburgh: R. Menzies, page 89

verb

1. To produce flames; to burn with a flame or blaze.
2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
3. (Internet, transitive, intransitive) To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody).
   I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup.
   This was one of the highest points of the show for me. Playin' followed, with a nice jam afterwards. After that, Jerry wandered into Crazy Fingers. (I had been hoping for Terrapin...oh well. Crazy Fingers seems to highlight Jerry's ability to come in late and tentative on lyrics. I'm sure I'll get flamed, since lots of folks seem to worship CF.) 1989-06-29, Neil McAvoy [Wing Attack Plan R], rec.music.gdead (Usenet)
   If he got flamed for his lies or his ignorance, he simply moved to another chat room. 2001, Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections
   Because online communication makes it easy to flame, many of us impetuously fire off messages that we later regret. 2019, Steven McCornack, Kelly Morrison, Reflect & Relate, 5th edition

adj

1. Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame.