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Entry 12 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Blaze

/(blāz)/ · IPA /bleɪz/
01 n. A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat in the process of combustion; a bright flame.
  1. 1.
    A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat in the process of combustion; a bright flame.
  2. 2.
    Intense, direct light accompanied with heat; as, to seek shelter from the blaze of the sun.
    “O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon!” — Milton.
  3. 3.
    A bursting out, or active display of any quality; an outburst; a brilliant display.
    “For what is glory but the blaze of fame?” — Milton.
  4. 4.
    A white spot on the forehead of a horse.
  5. 5.
    A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark, usually as a surveyor's mark.
    “Three blazes in a perpendicular line on the same tree indicating a legislative road, the single blaze a settlement or neighborhood road.” — Carlton.
Phrases & compounds
In a blaze — on fire; burning with a flame; filled with, giving, or reflecting light; excited or exasperated.
Like blazes — furiously; rapidly.
Syn. Blaze, Flame.
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.
02 v. i. To shine with flame; to glow with flame; as, the fire blazes.
imp. & p. p. Blazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blazing
  1. 1.
    To shine with flame; to glow with flame; as, the fire blazes.
  2. 2.
    To send forth or reflect glowing or brilliant light; to show a blaze.
    “And far and wide the icy summit blazed.” — Wordsworth.
  3. 3.
    To be resplendent.
Phrases & compounds
To blaze away — to discharge a firearm, or to continue firing; -- said esp. of a number of persons, as a line of soldiers. Also used (fig.) of speech or action.
03 v. t. To mark (a tree) by chipping off a piece of the bark.
  1. 1.
    To mark (a tree) by chipping off a piece of the bark.
    “I found my way by the blazed trees.” — Hoffman.
  2. 2.
    To designate by blazing; to mark out, as by blazed trees; as, to blaze a line or path.
    “Champollion died in 1832, having done little more than blaze out the road to be traveled by others.” — Nott.
04 v. t. To make public far and wide; to make known; to render conspicuous.
  1. 1.
    To make public far and wide; to make known; to render conspicuous.
    “On charitable lists he blazed his name.” — Pollok.
    “To blaze those virtues which the good would hide.” — Pope.
  2. 2.
    To blazon.(Her.) [Obs.]