Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause inflammation in (a part of the body): To make a part of the body become red, swollen, hot, and often painful.
   • To arouse or intensify strong feelings: To excite or stir up passionate emotions such as anger, hatred, or enthusiasm.
   • To cause to start burning; to ignite: To set something on fire or cause it to begin burning.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become inflamed: To become red, swollen, and sore, typically due to infection or injury.
   • To catch fire: To begin to burn.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (transitive - medical):
  • The repetitive motion inflamed her joint.
  • Allergens can inflame the nasal passages.
• Verb (transitive - emotional):
  • His speech was designed to inflame the crowd's anger.
  • The unfair verdict inflamed public opinion.
• Verb (transitive - literal fire):
  • The spark inflamed the dry tinder.
• Verb (intransitive - medical):
  • His throat inflamed after the surgery.
• Verb (intransitive - fire):
  • The dry grass inflamed quickly in the summer heat.

Advanced Usage

• "to inflame passions": To make strong emotions, especially negative ones, more intense.
  • The controversial article inflamed political passions across the country.
• "to inflame a situation": To make a difficult or tense situation worse.
  • The harsh police response only inflamed the situation.

Variants and Related Words

• Inflammation (n): The condition of being inflamed, especially in a part of the body.
  • The doctor diagnosed an inflammation of the tendon.
• Inflammatory (adj):
  • Relating to or causing inflammation.

    • She was prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug.
  • Tending to arouse anger, hostility, or strong public feeling.

    • He was accused of making inflammatory remarks.

Synonyms

• Provoke: To stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion).
• Incite: To encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior).
• Agitate: To make someone troubled or nervous.
• Ignite: To catch fire or cause to catch fire; to arouse or inflame (an emotion or situation).
• Kindle: To start a fire; to arouse or inspire (an emotion).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Inflame" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "Add fuel to the fire": (Similar in meaning to the emotional sense of 'inflame') To do or say something that makes a difficult situation worse or an argument more intense.
  • Bringing up past mistakes just adds fuel to the fire.

Verb

1. become inflamed; get sore
   • His throat inflamed
2. arouse or excite feelings and passions
   • The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor
   • The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world
   • Wake old feelings of hatred
3. cause to start burning
   • The setting sun kindled the sky with oranges and reds
4. catch fire
   • The dried grass of the prairie kindled, spreading the flames for miles
5. cause inflammation in
   • The repetitive motion inflamed her joint