flame
Definitions
The glowing, flickering body of light produced by something on fire.
火焰，火苗。
An intense feeling such as passion or love; (an old flame) a former lover.
（激情、爱等）强烈情感；（an old flame）旧情人。
To burn with flames; to glow or flare up like fire.
燃烧，冒出火焰；像火一样发亮、突然涌现。
To attack someone online with hostile, insulting messages.
（网络上）用攻击性、辱骂性言辞攻击（某人）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedflame is the root flamm (Latin flamma, 'flame') in its plainest form. The literal dancing fire became a metaphor for strong feeling — passion is a flame, an old flame is a past love. The internet then borrowed it again: to flame someone is to burn them with hostile words.
Root flamm still carries 7 more wordsWhy It Means This
Why does one little word cover a candle, a romance, and an internet brawl? Because all three are 'burning.' A flame is heat made visible; love feels like that heat inside; and a vicious online message scorches its target. English keeps reusing the same fire picture for anything intense and consuming.
Common Collocations
- 1.open flame明火
- 2.burst into flames突然起火
- 3.go up in flames付之一炬
- 4.fan the flames火上浇油
- 5.an old flame旧情人
Example Sentences
- 1.
The candle's flame flickered in the draft.
- 2.
She ran into the bedroom to escape the flames.
- 3.
He bumped into an old flame at the reunion.
- 4.
Don't post that — people will just flame you in the comments.
Synonym Comparison
- flame — the visible part of a fire; also passion or an online attack
- fire — the whole burning process, broader than just the flame
- blaze — a large, fierce fire; stresses brightness and intensity
- spark — the tiny start of a fire, or the first hint of feeling
- glow — steady light/heat without an open flame, as from embers