flames

Noun

flame (countable and uncountable, plural flames)

1. The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
   • Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth[…].1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC
2. A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
   • I could copy out yards of rhapsody to Lord George Poynings, her old flame, in which she addressed him by the most affectionate names.1844 January–December, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “Conclusion”, in “The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. [The Luck of Barry Lyndon.]”, in Miscellanies: Prose and Verse, volume III, London...

   Synonyms:

   admirer, adorer, baby, beloved, courter, crush, darling, enamorado, follower, leman

3. (Internet, 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, →ISBN, page 39
4. 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. flame
6. 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.

See all 12 meanings of flame