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inflame
(in flame′)
transitive verb inflamed, inflaming
- to set on fire
- to arouse passion, desire, or violence in; excite intensely, as with anger
- to increase the intensity of (passion, desire, violence, etc.)
- to cause inflammation in (some organ or tissue)
Origin: ME enflamen < OFr enflammer < L inflammare: see in- & flame
intransitive verb
- to become roused, excited, stimulated, etc.
- to catch fire
- to become hot, feverish, swollen, red, sore, etc.
Related Forms:
- inflamer noun
See inflame in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb in·flamed, in·flam·ing, in·flames verb, transitive
- To arouse to passionate feeling or action: crimes that inflamed the entire community.
- To make more violent; intensify: “inflamed to madness an already savage nature” (Robert Graves).
- a. To cause (the skin) to redden or grow hot, as from strong emotion or stimulants.b. To turn red or make glow: Great bonfires inflamed the night.
- To produce inflammation in (a tissue or organ).
- To set on fire; kindle.
- To become excited or aroused.
- To be affected by inflammation.
- To catch fire.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English enflaumen
Origin: , from Old French enflammer
Origin: , from Latin īnflammāre
Origin: : in-, intensive pref.; see in-2
Origin: + flammāre, to set on fire (from flamma, flame; see bhel-1 in Indo-European roots)
.Related Forms:
- in·flamˈer noun
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