Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - flame

~1 n 1 hot bright burning gas that you see when something is on fire  (the flame of a candle | Flames poured out of the windows of the building.) 2 in flames burning strongly  (The house was in flames by the time we arrived.) 3 go up in flames/burst into flames to begin burning suddenly and strongly  (I was driving along and the engine just burst into flames.) 4 a flame of passion/desire/vengeance etc literary a strong feeling  (- see also old flame old (13), naked flame naked (3), fan the flames fan2 (2), add fuel to the fire/flames fuel1 (3)) ~2 v 1 literary to become suddenly bright with light or colour, especially red or orange  (Her cheeks flamed for an instant.) 2 also flame up to suddenly burn more strongly or brightly