from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Blaze \Blaze\ (bl[=a]z), n. [OE. blase, AS. bl[ae]se, blase;
akin to OHG. blass whitish, G. blass pale, MHG. blas torch,
Icel. blys torch; perh. fr. the same root as E. blast. Cf.
{Blast}, {Blush}, {Blink}.]
1. A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat in the
process of combustion; a bright flame. "To heaven the
blaze uprolled." --Croly.
[1913 Webster]
2. Intense, direct light accompanied with heat; as, to seek
shelter from the blaze of the sun.
[1913 Webster]
O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon!
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
3. A bursting out, or active display of any quality; an
outburst; a brilliant display. "Fierce blaze of riot."
"His blaze of wrath." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
For what is glory but the blaze of fame? --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
4. [Cf. D. bles; akin to E. blaze light.] A white spot on the
forehead of a horse.
[1913 Webster]
5. A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark,
usually as a surveyor's mark.
[1913 Webster]
Three blazes in a perpendicular line on the same
tree indicating a legislative road, the single blaze
a settlement or neighborhood road. --Carlton.
[1913 Webster]
{In a blaze}, on fire; burning with a flame; filled with,
giving, or reflecting light; excited or exasperated.
{Like blazes}, furiously; rapidly. [Low] "The horses did
along like blazes tear." --Poem in Essex dialect.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In low language in the U. S., blazes is frequently used
of something extreme or excessive, especially of
something very bad; as, blue as blazes. --Neal.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: {Blaze}, {Flame}.
Usage: A blaze and a flame are both produced by burning gas.
In blaze the idea of light rapidly evolved is
prominent, with or without heat; as, the blaze of the
sun or of a meteor. Flame includes a stronger notion
of heat; as, he perished in the flames.
[1913 Webster]