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n. 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 person that one has an intense passion for. 6. Informal An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network. v. flamed, flam·ing, flames v.intr. 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. v.tr. Phrasal 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. 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). [Middle English, from Anglo-Norman flaumbe, variant of Old French flambe, from flamble, from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma; see bhel-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] flamer n. |
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