English Meaning & Definitions
To start a fire, or more commonly, to arouse or inspire an emotion, passion, or interest.
- “The heartfelt speech helped to kindle a flame of hope among the community members.”
- “They spent the evening talking about their shared dreams, trying to kindle a flame of romance after years of routine.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “kindle a flame”.
The verb 'kindle' derives from Middle English 'kindlen', stemming from Old Norse 'kyndil' (torch, candle), ultimately from Latin 'candēre' (to shine). 'Flame' comes from Old French 'flame', from Latin 'flamma'. Together, the phrase originally described the physical act of starting a fire, which over time evolved figuratively to describe arousing emotions, passions, or inspiration.
Imagine 'kindling' small twigs to make a fire, and suddenly a bright 'flame' starts, just like sparking a new interest or emotion.
Frequently Asked Questions About “kindle a flame”
1. What is the meaning of “kindle a flame” in English?
In English, kindle a flame (idiom) is defined as: “To start a fire, or more commonly, to arouse or inspire an emotion, passion, or interest.”.
2. How do you use “kindle a flame” in a sentence?
“The heartfelt speech helped to kindle a flame of hope among the community members.”
3. What are English synonyms of “kindle a flame”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “kindle a flame”?
The verb 'kindle' derives from Middle English 'kindlen', stemming from Old Norse 'kyndil' (torch, candle), ultimately from Latin 'candēre' (to shine). 'Flame' comes from Old French 'flame', from Latin 'flamma'. Together, the phrase originally described the physical act of starting a fire, which over time evolved figuratively to describe arousing emotions, passions, or inspiration.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.