# flame

> English word · Noun · IPA /fleɪm/ · frequency rank #6,357

## Definitions
1. The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
2. A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
3. An aggressively insulting criticism or remark.
4. A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour.
5. A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour.
flame:
6. The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the curl.
7. Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
8. A variety of carnation.

## Etymology
From Middle English flawme, blend of Old French flame and flambe, flamble, the first from Latin flamma, the second from Latin flammula, diminutive of flamma, both from pre-Latin *fladma; Proto-Italic *flagmā, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to shimmer, gleam, shine”). Displaced native Old English līeġ.

## Easily confused with
- **flat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flat)
- **flee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flee)
- **foam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-foam)
- **flaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flaw)
- **flap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flap)
- **flax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flax)
- **flue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flue)
- **fume** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-fume)
- **frame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-frame)
- **flash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flash)
- **flank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flank)
- **flare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flare)
- **flute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flute)
- **flaps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flaps)
- **flask** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flask)
- **fluke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-fluke)
- **flume** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flume)
- **Frome** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-frome)
- **flames** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-flames)
- **frames** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flame-vs-frames)

## Common misspellings (7)
`falme`, `fflame`, `flaem`, `flamme`, `fllame`, `flmae`, `lfame`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/flame