enflame

Verb

inflame (third-person singular simple present inflames, present participle inflaming, simple past and past participle inflamed)

1. (transitive) To set (someone or something) on fire; to cause (someone or something) to burn, flame, or glow; to kindle.
   • [Jesus, you] art the eternal Orator, vvhich both outvvardlie talkeſt to mankinde by thy Goſpel, and invvardlie in our harts inflameſt thy light vvhich is true confeſſion, faith, and comfort in thee: […]1579, Iohn Auenar [i.e., Johann Habermann], “A Praier against Desperation”, in Thomas Rogers, transl., The Enimie of Securitie or A Dailie Exercise of Godly Meditations, […], [London], →OCLC, page 281

   Synonyms:

   aflame, ignite, alight, conflagrate, fire, fire up, enkindle, light, light up, set ablaze

2. (broadly, transitive) To cause (something) to appear bright or red, as if on fire; to brighten, to redden.
   • I vvill my ſelf conduct thee on thy VVay, / VVhen next the Southing Sun inflames the Day; / VVhen the dry Herbage thirſts for Devvs in vain, / And Sheep, in Shades, avoid the parching Plain.1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 138...

   Synonyms:

   irritate

3. (broadly, transitive) To cause (the body or a body part) to feel abnormally or unusually hot; specifically (medicine), to cause inflammation, including abnormal heat, pain, redness, swelling, etc., in (the body or a body part).
   • to inflame the eyes by overwork

   Synonyms:

   irritate

4. (figuratively, transitive) To cause (someone, or their heart, mind, etc.) to feel strong desire or other feelings; to excite (someone) to great passion; specifically, to cause (someone) to feel anger or rage; to anger, to enrage, to incense.
   • You are not VVood, you are not Stones, but men: / And being men, hearing the VVill of Cæſar, / It vvill inflame you, it vvill make you mad; […]1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...

   Synonyms:

   exasperate, irritate, affront, aggravate, anger, antagonize, awrath, burn up, cheese off, cross

   Antonyms:

   disinflame

5. (figuratively, transitive) To excite or intensify (a feeling, such as an appetite or passion), especially to an excessive or unnatural level.
   • to inflame desire

   Synonyms:

   aflame, arouse, kindle, provoke, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send

6. (figuratively, transitive) To cause (something intangible, such as a dispute or violence, or hunger or thirst) to become more serious or worse; to aggravate, to exacerbate.
   • They often drank of this stream, which had such a particular quality in it, that though it refreshed them for a time, it rather inflamed than quenched their thirst.1709 January 31 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Joseph Addison], “Thursday, January 21, 1708–09”, in The Tatler, number 123; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The...

See all 11 meanings of inflame