fleɪm n. & v. --n. 1 a ignited
gas (the
fire burnt with a
steady flame). b
one portion of
this (the flame flickered
and died). c (usu. in pl.)
visible combustion (burst
into flames). 2 a a
bright light;
brilliant colouring. b a brilliant orange-red
colour. 3 a
strong passion,
esp.
love (fan
the flame). b colloq. a
boyfriend or
girlfriend. --v. 1 intr. & tr. (often foll. by
away,
forth,
out, up)
emit or
cause to emit flames. 2 intr. (often foll. by out, up) a (of passion) break out. b (of a person)
become angry. 3 intr.
shine or
glow like flame (leaves flamed in the
autumn sun). 4 intr.
poet.
move like flame. 5 tr.
send (a signal) by
means of flame. 6 tr.
subject to the
action of flame. øflame
gun a
device for throwing flames to
destroy weeds etc. flame out (of a jet engine)
lose power through the
extinction of the flame in the combustion
chamber. flame-proof (esp. of a fabric) treated so as to be
non-flammable. flame-thrower (or -projector) a
weapon for throwing a spray of flame. flame-tree
any of
various trees with brilliant
red flowers esp. flame-of-the-forest, Delonix regia. go up in flames be consumed by fire. øøflameless adj. flamelike adj. flamy adj. [ME f. OF flame, flam(m)er f. L flamma]
