inflame
pronunciation
How to pronounce inflame in British English:
UK [ɪnˈfleɪm]
How to pronounce inflame in American English:
US [ɪnˈflem]
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- Verb:
- cause inflammation in
- catch fire
- cause to start burning
- arouse or excite feelings and passions
- become inflamed; get sore
Word Origin
- inflame (v.)
- mid-14c., "make (someone) ardent; set (the spirit, etc.) on fire" with a passion or religious virtue, a figurative sense, from Old French enflamer, from Latin inflammare "to set on fire, kindle," figuratively "to rouse, excite," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + flammare "to flame," from flamma "a flame" (see flame (n.)). Literal sense of "to cause to burn" first recorded in English late 14c. Meaning "to heat, make hot, cause inflammation" is from 1520s. Related: Enflamed; enflaming. Also enflame, but since 16c. the spelling with in- has predominated. Related: Inflamed; Inflaming.
Example
- 1. Fighting the global threat of climate change could unite countries-or inflame rivalries .
- 2. A direct u.s. attack on libyan soil could further inflame tensions in the region , american officials acknowledge .
- 3. January 's long-awaited referendum on the independence of southern sudan will inflame tensions , but will not lead to full blown civil war .
- 4. Any such test would further inflame regional tensions and follows pyongyang 's warnings in recent weeks that it stands on the brink of open war with seoul .
- 5. But the repression was just harsh enough to inflame protesters , not terrifying enough to scare them into staying home .