Blaze vs. Flame: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 11, 2023
Blaze often refers to a large, intense fire or a brilliant burst of light, while Flame is the visible, gaseous part of a fire.
Key Differences
Blaze typically denotes a powerful, often uncontrollable fire, while Flame denotes the bright, glowing, and usually visible part of a fire. A blaze is intense and can consume entire forests or buildings, whereas a flame might be seen atop a candle or emanating from a gas stove.
Blaze can also imply a brilliant, shining intensity, beyond just that of fire. For instance, the sun can blaze in the sky, creating an intense heat and light. Flame, in contrast, remains closely associated with the burning and illumination aspect of a fire and doesn't possess the same breadth of metaphorical uses as blaze.
Another difference lies in the magnitude and the implication of each term. While a campfire has flames, if it becomes wild and consumes a large area, it might be termed a blaze. This indicates the size and potential danger associated with the term "blaze." A flame can be controlled, like the flame of a lantern, but a blaze often implies something larger and possibly out of control.
In some contexts, Blaze can also refer to a mark or sign, often used to indicate a trail or path, whereas Flame typically doesn't have this usage. A trail might be marked with blazes to guide hikers. Meanwhile, Flame might be used more metaphorically, as in the flame of love or passion, suggesting an intense emotion or drive.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
A large, intense fire.
The visible, gaseous part of a fire.
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Size/Intensity
Often larger and more intense.
Can be small and controlled, like a candle's flame.
Metaphorical Uses
Can imply brilliant intensity, like the sun's rays.
Often suggests intense emotion or passion.
Other Uses
Marks or signs, especially on a trail.
Typically doesn't have this usage.
Control
Implies something possibly uncontrolled or overwhelming.
Can be controlled or uncontrolled.
Blaze and Flame Definitions
Blaze
A sudden, intense outburst or display.
She entered the room with a blaze of enthusiasm.
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Flame
The visible, gaseous part of a fire.
The flame from the candle danced in the darkness.
Blaze
A vivid display of color.
The garden was a blaze of color in springtime.
Flame
Someone beloved or sought-after.
She was the flame of his heart.
Blaze
A brilliant burst of fire; a flame.
Flame
A burning desire or drive.
He had a flame for justice and activism.
Blaze
A destructive fire.
Flame
The zone of burning gases and fine suspended matter associated with rapid combustion; a hot, glowing mass of burning gas or vapor.
Blaze
A bright or steady light or glare
The blaze of the desert sun.
Flame
The condition of active, blazing combustion
Burst into flame.
Blaze
A brilliant, striking display
Flowers that were a blaze of color.
Flame
Something resembling a flame in motion, brilliance, intensity, or shape.
Blaze
A sudden outburst, as of emotion
A blaze of anger.
Flame
A violent or intense passion.
Blaze
Blazes Used as an intensive
Where in blazes are my keys?.
Flame
(Informal) A person that one has an intense passion for.
Blaze
A white or light-colored spot or stripe on the face of an animal, such as a horse.
Flame
(Informal) An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network.
Blaze
A mark to indicate a trail, usually painted on or cut into a tree.
Flame
To burn brightly; blaze.
Blaze
To burn with a bright flame.
Flame
To color or flash suddenly
Cheeks that flamed with embarrassment.
Blaze
To shine brightly.
Flame
(Informal) To make insulting criticisms or remarks, as on a computer network, to incite anger.
Blaze
To be resplendent
A garden blazing with flowers.
Flame
To burn, ignite, or scorch (something) with a flame.
Blaze
To flare up suddenly
My neighbor's temper blazed.
Flame
(Informal) To insult or criticize provokingly, as on a computer network.
Blaze
To shoot rapidly and continuously
Machine guns blazed.
Flame
(Obsolete) To excite; inflame.
Blaze
To shine or be resplendent with
Eyes that blazed hatred.
Flame
The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
Blaze
To mark (a tree) with a blaze.
Flame
A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
Blaze
To indicate (a trail) by making blazes.
Flame
An aggressively insulting criticism or remark.
Blaze
To prepare or lead (the way in an endeavor):blazed the way in space exploration.
Flame
(color) A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour. E82D14
Blaze
To make known publicly; proclaim
Headlines blazed the news.
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
A fire, especially a fast-burning fire producing a lot of flames and light.
Flame
Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
Blaze
Intense, direct light accompanied with heat.
To seek shelter from the blaze of the sun
Flame
To produce flames; to burn with a flame or blaze.
Blaze
The white or lighter-coloured markings on a horse's face.
The palomino had a white blaze on its face.
Flame
To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
Blaze
(color) A high-visibility orange colour, typically used in warning signs and hunters' clothing.
Flame
To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody).
I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup.
Blaze
A bursting out, or active display of any quality.
Flame
Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame.
Blaze
A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark, usually as a surveyor's mark.
Flame
A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
Blaze
(poker) A hand consisting of five face cards.
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
Publication; the act of spreading widely by report
Flame
Ardor of affection; the passion of love.
Blaze
(intransitive) To be on fire, especially producing bright flames.
The campfire blazed merrily.
Flame
A person beloved; a sweetheart.
Blaze
(intransitive) To send forth or reflect a bright light; shine like a flame.
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
To be conspicuous; shine brightly a brilliancy of talents, deeds, etc..
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
To set in a blaze; burn.
Flame
To kindle; to inflame; to excite.
And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly.
Blaze
(transitive) To cause to shine forth; exhibit vividly; be resplendent with.
Flame
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke;
Fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
Blaze
To mark with a white spot on the face as a horse.
Flame
Shine with a sudden light;
The night sky flared with the massive bombardment
Blaze
(transitive) To set a mark on as a tree, usually by cutting off a piece of its bark.
Flame
Be in flames or aflame;
The sky seemed to flame in the Hawaiian sunset
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.
Flame
Criticize harshly, on the e-mail
Blaze
To set a precedent for the taking-on of a challenge; lead by example.
Darwin blazed a path for the rest of us.
Flame
A passionate or intense emotion.
Their romance was a short-lived flame.
Blaze
(figurative) To be furiously angry; to speak or write in a rage.
Flame
A warm, reddish glow.
His cheeks showed a flame of embarrassment.
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, intense fire.
The forest was consumed by a massive blaze.
Blaze
A brilliant burst or display of light.
The sun set with a blaze of orange and red.
Blaze
A mark or sign indicating a trail.
The hiker followed the blazes to stay on the path.
FAQs
Is every Blaze large in scale?
Typically, a blaze denotes a larger or more intense fire than just a flame.
Is Flame always visible?
Usually, it refers to the visible part of a fire.
Is a Blaze always dangerous?
Not always, but it often denotes an intense or uncontrolled fire.
Can Flame refer to a person's passion?
Yes, like in "a burning flame of desire."
Can Blaze refer to color displays?
Yes, like a "blaze of color" in a vibrant setting.
How does Blaze differ from flare?
While similar, a blaze is usually sustained, while a flare is sudden and brief.
Is Blaze always related to fire?
Mostly, but it can also refer to a burst of light or trail markings.
Can a single candle have a Flame?
Yes, the visible part of a candle's fire is its flame.
Can a sunrise be described using Blaze?
Yes, like in "the sun blazed over the horizon."
Can you Blaze a trail?
Yes, meaning to mark or pioneer a new path or method.
Can a Blaze be controlled?
It can be, but the term often suggests something large or intense.
Can a Flame be blue?
Yes, depending on the material being burned and its temperature.
Can Flame be used in digital contexts?
Yes, like "flaming" someone online, meaning to send hostile messages.
Can you describe love as a Flame?
Yes, suggesting passion or intensity.
Are Flame and Blaze synonyms?
They're related but have nuances; flame is a visible fire part, while blaze is more intense.
Is a Flame always hot?
Typically, as it's a part of a fire, but metaphorically, it can have varying meanings.
Can a personality Blaze?
Metaphorically, yes, suggesting someone with a vibrant or intense presence.
Can emotions Blaze?
Yes, suggesting they're intensely felt or displayed.
How does Flame relate to combustion?
Combustion is the process, and flame is often the visible result.
Which is typically larger, a Blaze or Flame?
A blaze is typically larger or more intense than a flame.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
