From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishflameflame1 /fleɪm/ ●●○ noun 1 
FIRE[countable, uncountable] hot bright burning gas that you see when something is on fire Flames poured out of the windows of the building. They rushed past us with buckets of water and tried to douse the flames. They sat around the campfire, watching the flickering flames. Flames quickly engulfed the building. a candle flame2 → in flames3 → go up in flames/burst into flames4 → a flame of anger/desire/passion etc5 [countable] an angry or rude email → old flame at old(4), → naked flame at naked(5), → fan the flames at fan2(2), → add fuel to the fire/flames at add(9)COLLOCATIONSverbsput out/extinguish the flames (=make them stop burning)The firemen successfully put out the flames.douse the flames (=pour water on them to make them stop)We used a bucket of water to douse the flames.smother the flames (=put something over them to make them stop burning)Barry smothered the flames with a blanket.fan the flames (=make them burn more by waving something in front of them)She used a large piece of card to fan the flames.a flame burnsThe flames were burning brightly.a flame dies down (=burns less strongly)By evening, the flames had gradually died down.a flame goes out (=stops burning)Try not to let the flame go out.flames flicker (also flames dance literary) (=they move)He watched the flames flickering in the fireplace.flames engulf something (=they completely surround and burn something)Flames quickly engulfed the building.flames leap (=they go high into the air)Flames were leaping up the chimney.flames lick something literary (=they touch something lightly)Flames licked the darkening sky.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + flamea naked/an open flame (=not enclosed with a cover)Never use a naked flame near spray paint.a candle flameHe lit the fire with the candle flame.a gas flameThe glass is heated over a gas flame.
FIRE[countable, uncountable] hot bright burning gas that you see when something is on fire Flames poured out of the windows of the building. They rushed past us with buckets of water and tried to douse the flames. They sat around the campfire, watching the flickering flames. Flames quickly engulfed the building. a candle flame2 → in flames3 → go up in flames/burst into flames4 → a flame of anger/desire/passion etc5 [countable] an angry or rude email → old flame at old(4), → naked flame at naked(5), → fan the flames at fan2(2), → add fuel to the fire/flames at add(9)COLLOCATIONSverbsput out/extinguish the flames (=make them stop burning)The firemen successfully put out the flames.douse the flames (=pour water on them to make them stop)We used a bucket of water to douse the flames.smother the flames (=put something over them to make them stop burning)Barry smothered the flames with a blanket.fan the flames (=make them burn more by waving something in front of them)She used a large piece of card to fan the flames.a flame burnsThe flames were burning brightly.a flame dies down (=burns less strongly)By evening, the flames had gradually died down.a flame goes out (=stops burning)Try not to let the flame go out.flames flicker (also flames dance literary) (=they move)He watched the flames flickering in the fireplace.flames engulf something (=they completely surround and burn something)Flames quickly engulfed the building.flames leap (=they go high into the air)Flames were leaping up the chimney.flames lick something literary (=they touch something lightly)Flames licked the darkening sky.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + flamea naked/an open flame (=not enclosed with a cover)Never use a naked flame near spray paint.a candle flameHe lit the fire with the candle flame.a gas flameThe glass is heated over a gas flame. Examples from the Corpus
flame• Flames poured out of the windows.• You can sterilize a needle by holding it in a flame.• The ice-cold butt burned the skin of his palm like a flame.• He cupped his hand over his thing as if it were a flame that might blow out.• Natural gas burns with a bright blue flame.• The arms of the dead warrior seemed to flex, moved by heat, twisted by the consuming flame.• We know a city can go up in flames because of a burnt cake in Pudding Lane.• In his imagination it burst into flames.• Or watch a launch, the orange flames billowing and shrinking to a point in the sky before the sound hits.• The room was dimly lit by the flame of a single candle.• The sun sat on top of it like the flame on a black candle.Flames ... engulfed• This home video was taken by a passer-by and shows how quickly the flames engulfed the building.flameflame2 verb [intransitive] 1 literaryBRIGHT to become suddenly bright with light or colour, especially red or orange Erica’s cheeks flamed with anger.2 literary to burn brightly A great fire flamed in an open fireplace.3 to send someone an angry or rude message in an email or on a bulletin board→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
flame• Seeing the mockery in Johnny's eyes, Claire's cheeks flamed.• She stared back at him, her cheeks flaming.• Those who ignore the above advice are likely to be flamed.• My rifles flamed and roared in the Federals' faces....• This marble figure seems to flame and spiral up, surging, groaning like an earthquake, subsiding even as he rises.• My ears flamed, my small dark hostile eyes were awash.• Flaming your boss really isn't a good idea, however angry you are.FlameFlame a US Christian hiphop singer who was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His albums include Flame (2004), Rewind (2005), Captured (2010). His real name is Marcus Tyrone Gray.From Longman Business Dictionaryflameflame1 /fleɪm/ verb [intransitive] informalCOMPUTING to send someone an angry or rude message in an email or on a bulletin board (=place in a computer information system where you can read or leave messages)→ See Verb tableflameflame2 (also flame mail) noun [countable] informalCOMPUTING an angry or rude message sent by emailOur website gets a lot of flame mails, but they’re usually so childish that we just laugh at most of them.Origin flame1 (1300-1400) Old French Latin flamma “flame” 