Fire vs. Flame — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 23, 2023
"Fire" refers to the process of combustion or an instance of this process, while "Flame" is the visible, glowing portion of a fire.
Difference Between Fire and Flame
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Fire" and "Flame" are terms related to combustion but signify different aspects. "Fire" is a broader concept, encompassing the entirety of the combustion process. It's not just the visible part but the entire phenomenon, including the heat, light, and chemical reactions involved. In many contexts, "fire" can also imply destruction or consumption because of its potential to spread and consume materials.
In contrast, "Flame" specifically denotes the visible and glowing part of a fire. It's the portion that one can see dancing or flickering, often characterized by its bright and vibrant colors. Flames can come in various colors and shapes, depending on the material being burned and the temperature of the combustion.
Moreover, while "fire" often implies a larger event or process, "flame" suggests a more localized or contained aspect of that event. A campfire, for instance, would be described in its entirety as a "fire," but the individual tongues of light and heat emanating from it are the "flames."
It's also worth noting that both terms have metaphorical usages in language. "Fire" can symbolize passion, drive, or purification, while "flame" can represent intense but fleeting desires or relationships.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Combustion process or instance
Visible, glowing part of a fire
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Scale & Context
Broader, can describe a larger event or process
More localized or specific
Physical Attributes
Includes heat, light, and reactions
Bright, often colored, can dance or flicker
Metaphorical Uses
Passion, drive, purification
Intense, fleeting desire or relationship
Dependency
Can exist without visible flames
Always associated with some form of fire
Compare with Definitions
Fire
The process of combustion of materials producing heat and light.
The fire burned brightly in the fireplace.
Flame
The visible, glowing part of a fire.
The flame danced in the wind.
Fire
Strong passion or enthusiasm.
She has a fire in her eyes when she talks about her dreams.
Flame
A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat.
The welder used a torch with a strong flame.
Fire
A destructive force or event.
The fire consumed the entire building.
Flame
A hot, burning gas or vapor.
The stove emitted a blue flame.
Fire
A burning sensation or inflammation.
The chili left a fire on my tongue.
Flame
An intense but often short-lived passion or admiration.
Their romance was a brief flame.
Fire
Discharge of firearms or artillery.
They opened fire on the enemy positions.
Flame
A symbol of inspiration or guiding principle.
She was the flame that led the movement.
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Fire is hot because the conversion of the weak double bond in molecular oxygen, O2, to the stronger bonds in the combustion products carbon dioxide and water releases energy (418 kJ per 32 g of O2); the bond energies of the fuel play only a minor role here.
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.
Fire
A rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light and is accompanied by flame, especially the exothermic oxidation of a combustible substance
Destruction by fire.
Flame
The zone of burning gases and fine suspended matter associated with rapid combustion; a hot, glowing mass of burning gas or vapor.
Fire
A specific instance of this change that destroys something
A house fire.
Flame
The condition of active, blazing combustion
Burst into flame.
Fire
A burning fuel
A cooking fire.
Flame
Something resembling a flame in motion, brilliance, intensity, or shape.
Fire
Burning intensity of feeling; ardor or enthusiasm
A musical performance that had fire.
Flame
A violent or intense passion.
Fire
Luminosity or brilliance, as of a cut and polished gemstone.
Flame
(Informal) A person that one has an intense passion for.
Fire
Liveliness and vivacity of imagination; brilliance
The fire of an artistic genius.
Flame
(Informal) An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network.
Fire
A severe test; a trial or torment
Went through fire to become a leader.
Flame
To burn brightly; blaze.
Fire
A fever or bodily inflammation
Tormented by the fire in an infected toe.
Flame
To color or flash suddenly
Cheeks that flamed with embarrassment.
Fire
The discharge of firearms or artillery
Heard the fire of cannon.
Flame
(Informal) To make insulting criticisms or remarks, as on a computer network, to incite anger.
Fire
The launching of a missile, rocket, or similar ballistic body.
Flame
To burn, ignite, or scorch (something) with a flame.
Fire
Discharged bullets or other projectiles
Subjected enemy positions to heavy mortar fire.
Struck by rifle fire.
Flame
(Informal) To insult or criticize provokingly, as on a computer network.
Fire
Intense, repeated attack or criticism
Answered the fire from her political critics.
Flame
(Obsolete) To excite; inflame.
Fire
To cause to burn; ignite or set fire to
Fired the enemy's encampment.
Flame
The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
Fire
To illuminate or cause to resemble fire, as in color
The morning sun fired the tops of the trees.
Flame
A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
Fire
To start (a fuel-burning engine or a vehicle with such an engine). Often used with up.
Flame
An aggressively insulting criticism or remark.
Fire
To start or tend a fire in
Fire a furnace.
Flame
(color) A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour. E82D14
Fire
To arouse the emotions of; make enthusiastic or ardent. Often used with up
Demonstrators who were fired up by their sense of injustice.
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.
Fire
To inspire or arouse (an emotion or the imagination).
Flame
Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
Fire
To bake or dry by heating, as in a kiln
Fire pottery.
Flame
To produce flames; to burn with a flame or blaze.
Fire
To discharge (a firearm, for example).
Flame
To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
Fire
To detonate (an explosive).
Flame
To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody).
I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup.
Fire
To propel (a projectile) from a weapon or launch (a missile)
Fired several rounds before the gun jammed.
Flame
Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame.
Fire
(Informal) To throw or propel with force and speed
Fire a ball at a batter.
Fire a puck at the goal.
Flame
A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
Fire
To utter or direct with insistence
Fired questions at the senator.
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.
Fire
(Games) To score (a number) in a game or contest
The golfer fired a 35 on the front nine.
Flame
Ardor of affection; the passion of love.
Fire
To end the employment or service of; dismiss.
Flame
A person beloved; a sweetheart.
Fire
To become ignited; flame up
Wet kindling that just wouldn't fire.
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.
Fire
To shoot a weapon
Aimed and fired at the target.
Flame
To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardor.
He flamed with indignation.
Fire
To detonate an explosive.
Flame
To kindle; to inflame; to excite.
And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly.
Fire
To ignite fuel; start
The engine fired right away.
Flame
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke;
Fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
Fire
To send out a projectile; discharge
The cannons fired for hours.
Flame
Shine with a sudden light;
The night sky flared with the massive bombardment
Fire
To propel or hurl a projectile
The pitcher wound up and fired.
Flame
Be in flames or aflame;
The sky seemed to flame in the Hawaiian sunset
Fire
(Physiology) To generate an electrical impulse. Used of a neuron.
Flame
Criticize harshly, on the e-mail
Fire
To become yellowed or brown before reaching maturity, as grain.
Fire
(uncountable) A (usually self-sustaining) chemical reaction involving the bonding of oxygen with carbon or other fuel, with the production of heat and the presence of flame or smouldering.
Fire
(countable) An instance of this chemical reaction, especially when intentionally created and maintained in a specific location to a useful end (such as a campfire or a hearth fire).
We sat about the fire singing songs and telling tales.
Fire
(countable) The occurrence, often accidental, of fire in a certain place, causing damage and danger.
There was a fire at the school last night and the whole place burned down.
During hot and dry summers many fires in forests are caused by regardlessly discarded cigarette butts.
Fire
The aforementioned chemical reaction of burning, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.
Fire
A heater or stove used in place of a real fire (such as an electric fire).
Fire
(countable) The elements necessary to start a fire.
The fire was laid and needed to be lit.
Fire
(uncountable) The bullets or other projectiles fired from a gun or other ranged weapon.
The fire from the enemy guns kept us from attacking.
Fire
(countable) A planned bombardment by artillery or similar weapons, or the capability to deliver such.
We dominated the battlespace with our fires.
Fire
A barrage, volley
Fire
(rocketry) An instance of firing one or more rocket engines.
Static fire
Fire
Strength of passion, whether love or hate.
Fire
Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm.
Fire
Splendour; brilliancy; lustre; hence, a star.
Fire
A severe trial; anything inflaming or provoking.
Fire
Red coloration in a piece of opal.
Fire
(slang) Amazing; excellent.
That shit is fire, yo!
Fire
(transitive) To set (something, often a building) on fire.
Fire
(transitive) To heat as with fire, but without setting on fire, as ceramic, metal objects, etc.
If you fire the pottery at too high a temperature, it may crack.
They fire the wood to make it easier to put a point on the end.
Fire
(transitive) To drive away by setting a fire.
Fire
(transitive) To terminate the employment contract of (an employee), especially for cause (such as misconduct or poor performance).
Fire
To terminate a contract with a client; to drop a client.
Fire
(transitive) To shoot (a gun, rocket/missile, or analogous device).
We will fire our guns at the enemy.
The jet fired a salvo of rockets at the truck convoy.
He fired his radar gun at passing cars.
Fire
(intransitive) To shoot a gun, cannon, or similar weapon.
Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.
Fire
(rocketry) To operate a rocket engine to produce thrust.
The RCS thrusters fired several times to stabilize the tumbling spacecraft.
Fire
To set off an explosive in a mine.
Fire
To shoot; to attempt to score a goal.
Fire
To cause an action potential in a cell.
When a neuron fires, it transmits information.
Fire
(transitive) To forcibly direct (something).
He answered the questions the reporters fired at him.
Fire
To initiate an event (by means of an event handler).
The event handler should only fire after all web page content has finished loading.
The queue fires a job whenever the thread pool is ready to handle it.
Fire
(transitive) To inflame; to irritate, as the passions.
To fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge
Fire
To be irritated or inflamed with passion.
Fire
To animate; to give life or spirit to.
To fire the genius of a young man
Fire
To feed or serve the fire of.
To fire a boiler
Fire
(transitive) To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.
Fire
To cauterize.
Fire
To catch fire; to be kindled.
Fire
Command to shoot with firearms
Fire
The evolution of light and heat in the combustion of bodies; combustion; state of ignition.
Fire
Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in a stove or a furnace.
Fire
The burning of a house or town; a conflagration.
Fire
Anything which destroys or affects like fire.
Fire
Ardor of passion, whether love or hate; excessive warmth; consuming violence of temper.
He had fire in his temper.
Fire
Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm; capacity for ardor and zeal.
And bless their critic with a poet's fire.
Fire
Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star.
Stars, hide your fires.
As in a zodiacrepresenting the heavenly fires.
Fire
Torture by burning; severe trial or affliction.
Fire
The discharge of firearms; firing; as, the troops were exposed to a heavy fire.
Fire
To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire a pile.
Fire
To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln; as, to fire pottery.
Fire
To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge.
Love had fired my mind.
Fire
To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius of a young man.
Fire
To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler.
Fire
To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.
[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines.
Fire
To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to fire a rifle, pistol, or cannon; to fire cannon balls, rockets, etc.
Fire
To drive by fire.
Till my bad angel fire my good one out.
Fire
To cauterize.
Fire
To dismiss from employment, a post, or other job; to cause (a person) to cease being an employee; - of a person. The act of firing is usually performed by that person's supervisor or employer.
Fire
To take fire; to be kindled; to kindle.
Fire
To be irritated or inflamed with passion.
Fire
To discharge artillery or firearms; as, they fired on the town.to grow irritated or angry.
Fire
The event of something burning (often destructive);
They lost everything in the fire
Fire
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke;
Fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
Fire
The act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy;
Hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes
They retreated in the face of withering enemy fire
Fire
A fireplace in which a fire is burning;
They sat by the fire and talked
Fire
Intense adverse criticism;
Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party
The government has come under attack
Don't give me any flak
Fire
Feelings of great warmth and intensity;
He spoke with great ardor
Fire
Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
Fire
A severe trial;
He went through fire and damnation
Fire
Start firing a weapon
Fire
Cause to go off;
Fire a gun
Fire a bullet
Fire
Bake in a kiln so as to harden;
Fire pottery
Fire
Terminate the employment of;
The boss fired his secretary today
The company terminated 25% of its workers
Fire
Go off or discharge;
The gun fired
Fire
Drive out or away by or as if by fire;
The soldiers were fired
Surrender fires the cold skepticism
Fire
Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses);
Arouse pity
Raise a smile
Evoke sympathy
Fire
Destroy by fire;
They burned the house and his diaries
Fire
Provide with fuel;
Oil fires the furnace
Common Curiosities
Can a fire exist without flames?
Yes, fire can occur without visible flames, especially in smoldering fires.
What does a "blue flame" typically indicate?
A blue flame usually signifies hotter and more efficient combustion.
Is every flame associated with fire?
Yes, flames are always a part of some combustion process or fire.
Can "fire" have metaphorical meanings?
Absolutely, "fire" can symbolize passion, drive, or purification among other things.
Is "flame" always visible?
Typically, yes. The term "flame" denotes the visible part of a fire.
Can "fire" also refer to gunshots?
Yes, "fire" can mean the discharge of firearms or artillery.
What does it mean to "carry a torch" or "hold a flame" for someone?
It means to have an enduring affection or passion for someone.
What can influence the color of a flame?
The material being burned and the temperature can influence flame color.
What is a "forest fire"?
A large-scale fire in a forest or woodland area.
Can "flame" be used as a verb?
Yes, as in "the material flamed up suddenly."
Can "flame" refer to online interactions?
Yes, "flaming" refers to hostile or aggressive online communication.
Are all fires hot?
While fire always involves heat, the temperature can vary based on fuel and conditions.
How does one "put out" a fire?
By removing heat, oxygen, or fuel, or a combination of these.
What is "flame retardant"?
A substance that reduces the likelihood of ignition or spread of fire.
Is "fire" always destructive?
Not always. While it can be destructive, it's also used beneficially in cooking, heating, and more.
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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.
