Blaze vs. Flame — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
A blaze is a large, intense fire, while a flame is the visible, gaseous part of a fire.
Difference Between Blaze and Flame
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Blaze and flame are terms that relate to fire but at different scales. A blaze is typically a large and intense fire, often out of control or used to describe a strong display of lights or colors. On the other hand, a flame is the visible, glowing part of a fire that emanates from a burning substance. When you see a candle, what you observe is a flame, but if that candle were to fall and ignite a curtain, resulting in a powerful fire, that would be described as a blaze.
The word "blaze" can imply a fire of significant size and intensity. It’s associated with wildfires or large structure fires. Alternatively, "flame" suggests a smaller, more controlled burn. A fireplace will contain flames, which may be enjoyed safely from a distance. The flame is the portion of a fire that is responsible for light and heat, while a blaze is the whole conflagration, often chaotic and expansive.
In usage, "blaze" can also function metaphorically, such as in "blaze a trail," meaning to lead the way innovatively, or it can be used to describe a strong burst of color. "Flame," conversely, may refer to the fervent expression of emotions or denote passion. A flame can also be a symbol, often used metaphorically to represent life, energy, or enduring love.
Each carries its own connotations and contexts. "Blaze" may denote urgency or emergency, often calling to mind the efforts of firefighters or the destructive potential of wildfires. "Flame," being smaller and singular, is often used to describe conditions of warmth, the act of burning, or to denote a single element of a larger fire. The flame can exist within a blaze, but a blaze is composed of many flames.
Comparison Chart
Size
Large, intense fire.
Smaller, controlled burn.
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Connotation
Often uncontrolled; emergency.
Warmth; romantic or spiritual symbol.
Intensity
High, can suggest destruction.
Less intense, can be peaceful or inviting.
Use in Metaphors
Trailblazing, bursting color.
Passion, energetic life.
Relation to Fire
Encompasses a larger event or area.
Individual part of the fire; localized.
Compare with Definitions
Blaze
A strong outburst or display.
He played the piano with a blaze of passion.
Flame
The visible, gaseous part of a fire.
The flame of the candle flickered in the wind.
Blaze
A very large or fiercely burning fire
Twenty firemen fought the blaze
Flame
A person's sweetheart or beloved.
They were each other's first flame.
Blaze
Used in various expressions of anger, bewilderment, or surprise as a euphemism for ‘hell’
What the blazes are you all talking about?
‘Go to blazes!’ he shouted
Flame
To express fervent emotion or criticism.
He flamed his critics during the press conference.
Blaze
A white spot or stripe on the face of a mammal or bird.
Flame
A flame (from Latin flamma) is the visible, gaseous part of a fire. It is caused by a highly exothermic chemical reaction taking place in a thin zone.
Blaze
A mark made on a tree by cutting the bark so as to mark a route.
Flame
The zone of burning gases and fine suspended matter associated with rapid combustion; a hot, glowing mass of burning gas or vapor.
Blaze
Burn fiercely or brightly
The fire blazed merrily
Flame
The condition of active, blazing combustion
Burst into flame.
Blaze
Fire a gun repeatedly or indiscriminately
They stormed with main entrance with guns blazing
Flame
Something resembling a flame in motion, brilliance, intensity, or shape.
Blaze
Achieve something in an impressive manner
She blazed to a gold medal in the 200-metre sprint
Flame
A violent or intense passion.
Blaze
Smoke cannabis.
Flame
(Informal) A person that one has an intense passion for.
Blaze
Set an example by being the first to do something; pioneer
Small firms would set the pace, blazing a trail for others to follow
Flame
(Informal) An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network.
Blaze
Mark out a path or route
Tourists haven't blazed a trail to the top of this hill
Flame
To burn brightly; blaze.
Blaze
Present or proclaim (news) in a prominent, typically sensational, manner
‘Pop stars and drugs’ blazed the headline
Flame
To color or flash suddenly
Cheeks that flamed with embarrassment.
Blaze
A brilliant burst of fire; a flame.
Flame
(Informal) To make insulting criticisms or remarks, as on a computer network, to incite anger.
Blaze
A destructive fire.
Flame
To burn, ignite, or scorch (something) with a flame.
Blaze
A bright or steady light or glare
The blaze of the desert sun.
Flame
(Informal) To insult or criticize provokingly, as on a computer network.
Blaze
A brilliant, striking display
Flowers that were a blaze of color.
Flame
(Obsolete) To excite; inflame.
Blaze
A sudden outburst, as of emotion
A blaze of anger.
Flame
The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
Blaze
Blazes Used as an intensive
Where in blazes are my keys?.
Flame
A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
Blaze
A white or light-colored spot or stripe on the face of an animal, such as a horse.
Flame
An aggressively insulting criticism or remark.
Blaze
A mark to indicate a trail, usually painted on or cut into a tree.
Flame
(color) A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour. E82D14
Blaze
To burn with a bright flame.
Flame
The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the curl.
The cello has a two-piece back with a beautiful narrow flame.
Blaze
To shine brightly.
Flame
Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
Blaze
To be resplendent
A garden blazing with flowers.
Flame
To produce flames; to burn with a flame or blaze.
Blaze
To flare up suddenly
My neighbor's temper blazed.
Flame
To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
Blaze
To shoot rapidly and continuously
Machine guns blazed.
Flame
To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody).
I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup.
Blaze
To shine or be resplendent with
Eyes that blazed hatred.
Flame
Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame.
Blaze
To mark (a tree) with a blaze.
Flame
A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
Blaze
To indicate (a trail) by making blazes.
Flame
Burning zeal or passion; elevated and noble enthusiasm; glowing imagination; passionate excitement or anger.
Where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow.
Smit with the love of sister arts we came,And met congenial, mingling flame with flame.
Blaze
To prepare or lead (the way in an endeavor):blazed the way in space exploration.
Flame
Ardor of affection; the passion of love.
Blaze
To make known publicly; proclaim
Headlines blazed the news.
Flame
A person beloved; a sweetheart.
Blaze
A fire, especially a fast-burning fire producing a lot of flames and light.
Flame
To burn with a flame or blaze; to burn as gas emitted from bodies in combustion; to blaze.
The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again.
Blaze
Intense, direct light accompanied with heat.
To seek shelter from the blaze of the sun
Flame
To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardor.
He flamed with indignation.
Blaze
The white or lighter-coloured markings on a horse's face.
The palomino had a white blaze on its face.
Flame
To kindle; to inflame; to excite.
And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly.
Blaze
(color) A high-visibility orange colour, typically used in warning signs and hunters' clothing.
Flame
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke;
Fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
Blaze
A bursting out, or active display of any quality.
Flame
Shine with a sudden light;
The night sky flared with the massive bombardment
Blaze
A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark, usually as a surveyor's mark.
Flame
Be in flames or aflame;
The sky seemed to flame in the Hawaiian sunset
Blaze
(poker) A hand consisting of five face cards.
Flame
Criticize harshly, on the e-mail
Blaze
Publication; the act of spreading widely by report
Flame
To burn with a flame.
The match flamed briefly before extinguishing.
Blaze
(intransitive) To be on fire, especially producing bright flames.
The campfire blazed merrily.
Flame
A passionate or intense emotion.
Her speech sparked a flame of hope among the crowd.
Blaze
(intransitive) To send forth or reflect a bright light; shine like a flame.
Blaze
To be conspicuous; shine brightly a brilliancy of talents, deeds, etc..
Blaze
To set in a blaze; burn.
Blaze
(transitive) To cause to shine forth; exhibit vividly; be resplendent with.
Blaze
To mark with a white spot on the face as a horse.
Blaze
(transitive) To set a mark on as a tree, usually by cutting off a piece of its bark.
Blaze
(transitive) To indicate or mark out a trail, especially through vegetation by a series of blazes.
The guide blazed his way through the undergrowth.
Blaze
To set a precedent for the taking-on of a challenge; lead by example.
Darwin blazed a path for the rest of us.
Blaze
(figurative) To be furiously angry; to speak or write in a rage.
Blaze
(slang) To smoke marijuana.
Blaze
(transitive) To blow, as from a trumpet
Blaze
(transitive) To publish; announce publicly
Blaze
(transitive) To disclose; bewray; defame
Blaze
To blazon
Blaze
A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat in the process of combustion; a bright flame.
Blaze
Intense, direct light accompanied with heat; as, to seek shelter from the blaze of the sun.
O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon!
Blaze
A bursting out, or active display of any quality; an outburst; a brilliant display.
For what is glory but the blaze of fame?
Blaze
A white spot on the forehead of a horse.
Blaze
A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark, usually as a surveyor's mark.
Three blazes in a perpendicular line on the same tree indicating a legislative road, the single blaze a settlement or neighborhood road.
Blaze
To shine with flame; to glow with flame; as, the fire blazes.
Blaze
To send forth or reflect glowing or brilliant light; to show a blaze.
And far and wide the icy summit blazed.
Blaze
To be resplendent.
Blaze
To mark (a tree) by chipping off a piece of the bark.
I found my way by the blazed trees.
Blaze
To designate by blazing; to mark out, as by blazed trees; as, to blaze a line or path.
Champollion died in 1832, having done little more than blaze out the road to be traveled by others.
Blaze
To make public far and wide; to make known; to render conspicuous.
On charitable lists he blazed his name.
To blaze those virtues which the good would hide.
Blaze
To blazon.
Blaze
A strong flame that burns brightly;
The blaze spread rapidly
Blaze
A cause of difficulty and suffering;
War is hell
Go to blazes
Blaze
Noisy and unrestrained mischief;
Raising blazes
Blaze
Great brightness;
A glare of sunlight
The flowers were a blaze of color
Blaze
A light-colored marking;
They chipped off bark to mark the trail with blazes
The horse had a blaze between its eyes
Blaze
Shine brightly and intensively;
Meteors blazed across the atmosphere
Blaze
Shoot rapidly and repeatedly;
He blazed away at the men
Blaze
Burn brightly and intensely;
The summer sun alone can cause a pine to blaze
Blaze
Move rapidly and as if blazing;
The spaceship blazed out into space
Blaze
Indicate by marking trees with blazes;
Blaze a trail
Blaze
A large and intense fire.
The forest blaze could be seen from miles away.
Blaze
A bright display of lights or colors.
The sunset was a brilliant blaze of orange and red.
Blaze
To burn fiercely or brightly.
The campfire blazed in the dark wilderness.
Blaze
To make a new or distinctive path.
She blazed her own path in the industry.
Common Curiosities
Is a blaze a single flame?
No, a blaze is composed of many flames.
Can "flame" be a verb?
Yes, "to flame" means to burn with a flame or to express strong criticism.
Can "blaze" have positive connotations?
Yes, in contexts like "blaze of glory" or "trailblazing."
Can a flame become a blaze?
Yes, if a flame spreads and grows in intensity, it can become a blaze.
Is a blaze always dangerous?
Often, but controlled blazes are used in land management.
Is a "blazing fire" a redundancy?
Somewhat, as "blaze" already implies a fire, but it emphasizes the fire's intensity.
Does "flame" always indicate heat?
Typically, though it can also symbolize light or energy.
Are "blaze" and "flame" synonymous?
Not exactly; they are related but differ in scale and context.
Do blazes emit flames?
Yes, blazes consist of large, intense flames.
What does it mean to "flame out"?
It means to fail in a sudden or spectacular way.
Can "blaze" refer to something other than fire?
Yes, it can describe a vivid display, like a "blaze of color."
Can both words be used metaphorically?
Yes, both can represent emotions, actions, or qualities metaphorically.
Is "flame" used in romantic contexts?
Yes, it often symbolizes passion or an object of affection.
What is a "blaze of publicity"?
It refers to a sudden and intense burst of media attention.
Is the flame of a candle considered a blaze?
No, it's too small and controlled to be called a blaze.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
