n.1. a
memory,
past incident or
event recurring vividly in one's
mind. 2. a backwards
movement of a flame, as into a
gas mixture; a
movement of a flame back along a current of
gas to an unexpected
point that is nearer to the
source. This can also be used to
refer to a
similar backward
flow of something other than a flame. 3. a coined variation of flareback, which figuratively means an outburst of protest or angry
rebuke, etc., as a reaction to a previous
statement,
criticism or the like. 4. a coined variation of flareback, which is a burst of flame from the
breech of a large
gun. (A
breech is the
rear part of the barrel of a
gun, especially the part where a projectile is inserted.) A flareback sometimes occurs after the
gun has been
fired due to gases
left in the
gun being ignited by an accidental spark. 5. a coined variation of
backlash, meaning a forceful, sudden backward
movement; also, any sudden or violent reaction.