Fire vs. Flame: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
Fire is the event or process of combustion, while flame is the visible, glowing portion of a fire.
Key Differences
When one talks about Fire and Flame, they're diving into the realm of combustion. Fire is the broader term, referring to the complete event of combustion, the process in which substances combine with oxygen and give off heat and light. Flame, on the other hand, represents the specific visible and glowing part of the fire, which can be multi-colored based on what's burning and at what temperature.
From a chemical perspective, Fire indicates a reaction – particularly, rapid oxidation. It needs fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source to begin and can manifest in various forms, from a simple campfire to a raging forest fire. Flame, in contrast, is the manifestation of this reaction, representing the gaseous state of the material that's undergoing combustion, often seen dancing or flickering atop the material being burned.
The practical implications of Fire and Flame are distinct too. Fire is often used to discuss the whole entity, like when speaking of a house fire or a campfire. It implies danger, warmth, or a controlled or uncontrolled event. Flame, however, might be used to describe the aesthetic or physical attributes of the visible part of the fire, as in "a blue flame" indicating a hotter combustion or "the flame of a candle."
Culturally, both Fire and Flame have deep symbolic meanings. Fire, spanning across many cultures, can symbolize destruction, passion, purification, or transformation. Flame often gets associated with life, spirit, guidance, or illumination, like in the context of "carrying the Olympic flame."
Comparison Chart
Definition
Combustion process releasing heat and light
Visible, glowing part of a fire
ADVERTISEMENT
Chemical Context
Rapid oxidation requiring fuel, oxygen, and ignition
Gaseous state of burning material
Practical Use
Refers to entire event (house fire, campfire)
Describes visible part (blue flame, candle flame)
Symbolism
Can symbolize destruction, passion, purification, transformation
Often symbolizes life, spirit, guidance, or illumination
Danger Level
Can be controlled or uncontrolled
Relatively controlled, depending on the source of fire
Fire and Flame Definitions
Fire
Combustion process releasing heat and light
The fire warmed the room quickly.
ADVERTISEMENT
Flame
Visible, glowing part of a fire
The flame of the candle flickered in the breeze.
Fire
An event of burning
There was a massive fire in the warehouse last night.
Flame
To burn with a flame
The gas stove flames when turned on.
Fire
Discharge of firearms
The troops opened fire on the enemy.
Flame
A reddish-orange color
The leaves turned a beautiful flame hue in autumn.
Fire
Strong enthusiasm or passion
She has a fire in her eyes when she talks about art.
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 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 condition of active, blazing combustion
Burst into flame.
Fire
A specific instance of this change that destroys something
A house fire.
Flame
Something resembling a flame in motion, brilliance, intensity, or shape.
Fire
A burning fuel
A cooking fire.
Flame
A violent or intense passion.
Fire
Burning intensity of feeling; ardor or enthusiasm
A musical performance that had fire.
Flame
(Informal) A person that one has an intense passion for.
Fire
Luminosity or brilliance, as of a cut and polished gemstone.
Flame
(Informal) An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network.
Fire
Liveliness and vivacity of imagination; brilliance
The fire of an artistic genius.
Flame
To burn brightly; blaze.
Fire
A severe test; a trial or torment
Went through fire to become a leader.
Flame
To color or flash suddenly
Cheeks that flamed with embarrassment.
Fire
A fever or bodily inflammation
Tormented by the fire in an infected toe.
Flame
(Informal) To make insulting criticisms or remarks, as on a computer network, to incite anger.
Fire
The discharge of firearms or artillery
Heard the fire of cannon.
Flame
To burn, ignite, or scorch (something) with a flame.
Fire
The launching of a missile, rocket, or similar ballistic body.
Flame
(Informal) To insult or criticize provokingly, as on a computer network.
Fire
Discharged bullets or other projectiles
Subjected enemy positions to heavy mortar fire.
Struck by rifle fire.
Flame
(Obsolete) To excite; inflame.
Fire
Intense, repeated attack or criticism
Answered the fire from her political critics.
Flame
The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat.
Fire
To cause to burn; ignite or set fire to
Fired the enemy's encampment.
Flame
A romantic partner or lover in a usually short-lived but passionate affair.
Fire
To illuminate or cause to resemble fire, as in color
The morning sun fired the tops of the trees.
Flame
An aggressively insulting criticism or remark.
Fire
To start (a fuel-burning engine or a vehicle with such an engine). Often used with up.
Flame
(color) A brilliant reddish orange-gold fiery colour. E82D14
Fire
To start or tend a fire in
Fire a furnace.
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 arouse the emotions of; make enthusiastic or ardent. Often used with up
Demonstrators who were fired up by their sense of injustice.
Flame
Burning zeal, passion, imagination, excitement, or anger.
Fire
To inspire or arouse (an emotion or the imagination).
Flame
To produce flames; to burn with a flame or blaze.
Fire
To bake or dry by heating, as in a kiln
Fire pottery.
Flame
To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardour.
Fire
To discharge (a firearm, for example).
Flame
To post a destructively critical or abusive message (to somebody).
I flamed him for spamming in my favourite newsgroup.
Fire
To detonate (an explosive).
Flame
Of a brilliant reddish orange-gold colour, like that of a flame.
Fire
To propel (a projectile) from a weapon or launch (a missile)
Fired several rounds before the gun jammed.
Flame
A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
Fire
(Informal) To throw or propel with force and speed
Fire a ball at a batter.
Fire a puck at the goal.
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
To utter or direct with insistence
Fired questions at the senator.
Flame
Ardor of affection; the passion of love.
Fire
(Games) To score (a number) in a game or contest
The golfer fired a 35 on the front nine.
Flame
A person beloved; a sweetheart.
Fire
To end the employment or service of; dismiss.
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 become ignited; flame up
Wet kindling that just wouldn't fire.
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 shoot a weapon
Aimed and fired at the target.
Flame
To kindle; to inflame; to excite.
And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly.
Fire
To detonate an explosive.
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 ignite fuel; start
The engine fired right away.
Flame
Shine with a sudden light;
The night sky flared with the massive bombardment
Fire
To send out a projectile; discharge
The cannons fired for hours.
Flame
Be in flames or aflame;
The sky seemed to flame in the Hawaiian sunset
Fire
To propel or hurl a projectile
The pitcher wound up and fired.
Flame
Criticize harshly, on the e-mail
Fire
(Physiology) To generate an electrical impulse. Used of a neuron.
Flame
A passionate or intense feeling
Their love was like a raging flame.
Fire
To become yellowed or brown before reaching maturity, as grain.
Flame
A thing compared to a flame's ability to burn brightly
He was the flame of the movement.
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
Fire
To terminate employment
He was fired from his job for misconduct.
FAQs
What gives a flame its color?
The temperature and the material being burned influence flame color.
Can flames exist without a fire?
No, flames are a manifestation of the combustion process, which is a fire.
Can fires be beneficial?
Yes, controlled fires can be used for cooking, warmth, or land management.
Why do some stoves have a blue flame?
A blue flame indicates complete combustion, which is hotter and more efficient.
What's the "triangle of fire"?
It refers to the three elements needed for fire: fuel, oxygen, and heat.
Can a fire burn underwater?
With specific fuel and oxidizer combinations, yes, fires can burn underwater.
Is the flame of a candle the hottest part?
No, the hottest part is just above the visible flame.
Is every fire accompanied by a flame?
Not necessarily; some fires (like smoldering fires) might not have visible flames.
Why is the Olympic torch called the "Olympic flame" and not fire?
The "Olympic flame" symbolizes a continuous connection to the ancient games.
Is "on fire" the same as "in flames"?
Generally, yes, both indicate something actively burning.
What does "old flame" mean?
It refers to a former romantic partner.
How can one extinguish a fire?
Removing heat, oxygen, or fuel can extinguish a fire.
Can there be a fire without oxygen?
Typically, no. Oxygen is a vital component of the fire triangle.
Can flames be different shapes?
Yes, depending on air currents and fuel source, flames can vary in shape.
What's the primary purpose of a fire department's "flame truck"?
To rapidly respond to and combat fires.
Is "firing" always about combustion?
No, "firing" can also mean discharging a weapon or terminating employment.
Can flames be harmful without touching them?
Yes, they can release toxic gases or consume oxygen, posing risks.
Why do flames always seem to point upwards?
Hot air rises due to its lower density, causing flames to shoot up.
Are wildfires the same as forest fires?
While similar, wildfires can occur in areas other than forests.
What are "eternal flames" in memorials?
They're flames kept burning continuously as a mark of remembrance.
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
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
