Lewis & Short

1. flamma, ae (archaic gen. sing. flammaï, Lucr. 1, 725; 900; 5, 1099), f. [for flagma, v. flagro; cf. Gr. φλέγμα, from φλέγω], a blazing fire, a blaze, flame (cf. ignis).

  1. I. Lit.: fana flammā deflagrata, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 3, 19, 44 (Trag. v. 116 ed. Vahl.); Lucr. 6, 1169: dicere aiunt Ennium, flammam a sapiente facilius ore in ardente opprimi quam bona dicta teneat, Cic. de Or. 2, 54, 222: flammam concipere, to take fire, Caes. B. C. 2, 14, 2: flammā torreri, id. B. G. 5, 43, 4: flamma ab utroque cornu comprehensa, naves sunt combustae, id. B. C. 3, 101, 5: circumventi flammā, id. B. G. 6, 16, 4: effusa flamma pluribus locis reluxit, Liv. 30, 6, 5: flammam sedare, Cic. Rep. 1, 42 fin.: lumina illa non flammae, sed scintillis inter fumum emicantibus similia, Quint. 8, 5, 29: solis flammam per caeli caerula pasci, the blazing light, Lucr. 1, 1090: erat is splendidissimo candore inter flammas circulus elucens, i. e. among the blazing stars, Cic. Rep. 6, 16: polo fixae flammae, Ov. Tr. 4, 3, 15: deum genitor rutilas per nubila flammas Spargit, i. e. flashing lightnings, id. F. 3, 285: flammam media ipsa tenebat Ingentem, i. e. a torch, Verg. A. 6, 518; so, armant picis unguine flammas, Val. Fl. 8, 302; for ignis: modum ponere iambis flammā, Hor. C. 1, 16, 3: flamma ferroque absumi, by fire and sword, Liv. 30, 6; Juv. 10, 266.
        1. b. Provv.
          1. (α) Flamma fumo est proxima: Fumo comburi nihil potest, flamma potest, i. e. the slightest approach to impropriety leads to vice, Plaut. Curc. 1, 1, 53.
          2. (β) E flamma cibum petere, to snatch food from the flames, i. e. to be reduced to extremities for want of it, Ter. Eun. 3, 2, 38 (cf. Cat. 59).
          3. (γ) Prius undis flamma (sc. miscebitur), sooner will fire mingle with water, of any thing impossible, Poët. ap. Cic. Phil. 13, 21, 49.
          4. (δ) Unda dabit flammas, Ov. Tr. 1, 8, 4.
            (ε) flamma recens parva sparsa resedit aqua, = obsta principiis, Ov. H. 17, 190.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. Of color, flame-color: reddit flammam excellentis purpurae, Plin. 35, 6, 27, § 46: stant lumina (i. e. oculi) flammā, his eyes glare with fire, Verg. A. 6, 300; cf.: rubrā suffusus lumina flammā, Ov. M. 11, 368.
      2. 2. Fever-heat, Ov. M. 7, 554.
  2. II. Trop., viz., acc. as the notion of glowing heat or of destructive power predominates (cf. flagro, II.).
    1. A. The flame or fire of passion, esp. of love, the flame or glow of love, flame, passion, love: amoris turpissimi, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 35, § 92: cuncto concepit pectore flammam Funditus, Cat. 64, 92; cf.: excute virgineo conceptas pectore flammas, Ov. M. 7, 17: digne puer meliore flammā, Hor. C. 1, 27, 20: ira feri mota est: spirat pectore flammas, Ov. M. 8, 355; Sil. 17, 295: omnis illa vis et quasi flamma oratoris, Cic. Brut. 24, 93; cf.: scilicet non ceram illam neque figuram tantam vim in sese habere, sed memoria rerum gestarum eam flammam egregiis viris in pectore crescere, Sall. J. 4, 6.
    2. B. A devouring flame, destructive fire, suffering, danger: incidi in ipsam flammam civilis discordiae vel potius belli, Cic. Fam. 16, 11, 2: invidiae, id. de Or. 3, 3, 11: is se tum eripuit flammā, id. Brut. 23, 90: implacatae gulae, i. e. raging hunger, Ov. M. 8, 849.
    3. C. Flamma Jovis, the name of a red flower, Plin. 27, 7, 27, § 44.