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Original · left

Flame (fire)

The glowing, visible, hot tongue of combustion rising from burning wood or gas.

First in use: ancient / pre-modern
Duplicate · right

Flaming (internet)

A blistering, hostile, and direct personal attack or string of insults launched against another user in an online community.

First in use: the 1980s

Flame / Flame (fire) / Flaming (internet)

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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Fire vs. flame wars.

Which meaning of Flame is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Flame (fire) came first (ancient / pre-modern). Flaming (internet) arrived in the 1980s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Flame (fire)Flaming (internet)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

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The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · ancient / pre-modern

Flame (fire)

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Duplicate · the 1980s

Flaming (internet)

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More duplicated terms

Internet & gaming culture