blaze
blayz
Blaze (noun) means a large, fast-burning fire. Example: “Firefighters battled the blaze for six hours before bringing it under control.”
noun
1
A large, fast-burning fire.
"Firefighters battled the blaze for six hours before bringing it under control."
"The warehouse blaze could be seen from miles away."
"Neighbours watched in shock as the blaze spread across the roof of the barn."
2
A white or light-coloured mark on a horse's face, or a mark cut into a tree's bark to show a trail.
"The trail was easy to follow thanks to the blazes carved into the pine trunks."
"The horse had a white blaze down the middle of its nose."
"Hikers followed the painted blazes on the trees to find the path back."
verb
1
To burn brightly, or to shine with intense light.
"The bonfire blazed long into the night."
"Sunlight blazed off the windscreen."
"A fire blazed in the hearth while we played cards all evening."
How to use blaze
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong, bright fire, or (as a verb) to burn or shine intensely; also a trail marker or a mark on an animal's face.
Common pairings
a raging blaze
blaze of glory
blaze a trail
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Word forms
- Plural
- blazes
- Third person singular
- blazes
- Past tense
- blazed
Fill the gap
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Firefighters battled the _____ for six hours before bringing it under control.
Etymology
From Old English "blæse," meaning a torch or flame, tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shine."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for blaze
See all rhymes for blaze →Frequently asked questions
What does “blaze” mean?
The word “blaze” means a large, fast-burning fire. In plain terms, a strong, bright fire, or (as a verb) to burn or shine intensely; also a trail marker or a mark on an animal's face.
How do you pronounce “blaze”?
“Blaze” is pronounced blayz (/bleɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “blaze” in a sentence?
Here is “blaze” used in a sentence: “Firefighters battled the blaze for six hours before bringing it under control.”
What part of speech is “blaze”?
Depending on how it is used, “blaze” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “blaze” come from?
The word “blaze” comes from Old English. From Old English "blæse," meaning a torch or flame, tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shine.".
Is “blaze” a common word?
“Blaze” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “blaze” have?
“Blaze” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, fast-burning fire.
What is the difference between a blaze and a fire?
A blaze specifically refers to a large, fast-burning fire, while fire is a general term that can describe flames of any size or intensity. All blazes are fires, but not all fires are large or fast-burning enough to be called a blaze.
What does blaze mean when describing a horse?
When describing a horse, a blaze refers to a white or light-colored mark running down its face, a distinct sense from the fire-related meanings of the word. This same word is also used for a mark cut into a tree's bark to show a trail.
How is blaze used as a verb differently from its noun senses?
As a verb, blaze means to burn brightly or shine with intense light, such as a fire that blazes through a building or a sun that blazes overhead, while the noun senses refer to the fire itself or to a mark on a horse or tree. The verb focuses on the action of burning or shining rather than the object.
