Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Burning with flames; on fire: Describes something that is actively burning and producing visible flames.
   • Very bright or intense in color: Resembling the color of a flame; brilliant red, orange, or similar hue.
   • Passionate, intense, or fervent: Used to describe emotions, enthusiasm, or arguments that are extremely strong and heated.
   • (Informal, intensifier): Used for emphasis, often expressing anger, annoyance, or to strengthen a negative description.

2. Noun:

   • The process or state of burning with flames: The act of combustion producing heat, light, and often smoke.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The firefighters rushed toward the flaming building. (Describing something on fire.)
  • She painted the sky a flaming orange at sunset. (Describing a bright, intense color.)
  • He defended his thesis with flaming passion. (Describing intense emotion.)
  • That was a flaming ridiculous thing to say! (Used as an informal intensifier.)

• Noun:

  • The flaming of the ceremonial torch marked the start of the games. (Referring to the act of burning.)

Advanced Usage

• "Flaming" in online contexts: In internet slang, "flaming" refers to the act of posting hostile or insulting messages, often in a public forum.
  • He was banned from the forum for constant flaming of other users.

Variants and Related Words

• Flame (n/v): The visible, gaseous part of a fire / to burn or shine like a flame / to post angry online messages.
  • The candle's flame flickered. / Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment.
• Flamingly (adv): In a flaming manner.
  • The sky was flamingly red.
• Inflame (v): To provoke or intensify strong feelings.
  • His speech served to inflame the crowd.

Synonyms

• Adjective (burning): Blazing, burning, aflame.
• Adjective (intense color): Vivid, brilliant, glowing.
• Adjective (passionate): Ardent, fervent, vehement.
• Noun (combustion): Blaze, fire, conflagration.

Related Phrases

• Flaming sword: A sword depicted as being on fire, often in mythological or religious contexts.
  • The angel guarded the gate with a flaming sword.
• Flaming wreckage: The burning remains of something destroyed, like a vehicle or building.
  • Rescuers searched through the flaming wreckage.

Idioms

• Trial by fire / Baptism of fire: A difficult initiation or first experience. (Note: This idiom uses "fire," not "flaming," but is conceptually related.)
• Add fuel to the fire/flames: To make a bad situation worse. (Note: This idiom uses "fire/flames," not "flaming.")

Adjective

1. very intense
   • a fiery temper
   • flaming passions
2. informal intensifiers
   • what a bally (or blinking) nuisance
   • a bloody fool
   • a crashing bore
   • you flaming idiot

Noun

1. the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
   • fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries