What does the cryptic crossword clue "Fire is strong, then weak (5)" mean?

The definition is "Fire". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). F (synonym="forte, so "strong"") + LAME (synonym=""weak"") = FLAME; definition: "Fire" The answer is FLAME.

Fire is strong, then weak (5)

Guardian Cryptic #29597 | 21 Across | 2025-01-21 flower

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