INFLAME

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inflame mean? 

• INFLAME (verb)
  The verb INFLAME has 5 senses:

1. cause inflammation in

2. catch fire

3. cause to start burning

4. arouse or excite feelings and passions

5. become inflamed; get sore

  Familiarity information: INFLAME used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INFLAME (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they inflame    ... he / she / it inflames   
Past simple: inflamed   
Past participle: inflamed   
-ing form: inflaming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause inflammation in

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Context example:

The repetitive motion inflamed her joint

Hypernyms (to "inflame" is one way to...):

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen (make worse)

Verb group:

inflame (become inflamed; get sore)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

inflammation (a response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat)

inflammatory (characterized or caused by inflammation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Catch fire

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

inflame; kindle

Context example:

The dried grass of the prairie kindled, spreading the flames for miles

Hypernyms (to "inflame" is one way to...):

flare up (ignite quickly and suddenly, especially after having died down)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

inflammation (the act of setting something on fire)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to start burning

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

conflagrate; enkindle; inflame; kindle

Context example:

The setting sun kindled the sky with oranges and reds

Hypernyms (to "inflame" is one way to...):

ignite; light (cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inflame"):

rekindle (kindle anew, as of a fire)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

inflammation (the act of setting something on fire)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Arouse or excite feelings and passions

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

fire up; heat; ignite; inflame; stir up; wake

Context example:

Wake old feelings of hatred

Hypernyms (to "inflame" is one way to...):

arouse; elicit; enkindle; evoke; fire; kindle; provoke; raise (call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inflame"):

ferment (work up into agitation or excitement)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

inflaming; inflammation (arousal to violent emotion)

inflammatory (arousing to action or rebellion)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Become inflamed; get sore

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Context example:

His throat inflamed

Hypernyms (to "inflame" is one way to...):

decline; worsen (grow worse)

Verb group:

inflame (cause inflammation in)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

inflammation (a response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat)

inflammatory (characterized or caused by inflammation)

 Context examples 

The procedure lets your doctor see things such as inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers.

(Colonoscopy, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

A condition in which the gastrointestinal tract is inflamed over a long period of time.

(Crohn disease, NCI Dictionary)

Symptoms include fever, inflamed mucous membranes in the mouth, and infections.

(Cyclic neutropenia, NCI Dictionary)

A raised, inflamed skin reaction to pressure from rubbing or scratching.

(Dermatographism, NCI Thesaurus)

The inflamed bronchi produce a lot of mucus.

(Chronic Bronchitis, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

A lung condition that develops over time in which the bronchi (large air passages that lead to the lungs) become inflamed and scarred.

(Chronic Bronchitis, NCI Dictionary)

A rare disorder that causes the blood vessels to become inflamed.

(Behcet disease, NCI Dictionary)

A condition in which the bronchioles (tiny branches of air tubes in the lungs) become inflamed and blocked.

(Bronchiolitis obliterans, NCI Dictionary)

The cancer may cause the meninges to be inflamed.

(Carcinomatous meningitis, NCI Dictionary)

Like most other parts of your body, your eyelids can get infected, inflamed, or even develop cancer.

(Eyelid Disorders, NIH)