afire

[ uh-fahyuhr ]
See synonyms for afire on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. on fire: to set a house afire.

Origin of afire

1
Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at a-1, fire

Words Nearby afire

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use afire in a sentence

  • I also found the camp and the country round about burning, the said Ygolotes having set it afire only a short time before.

  • The insult that mademoiselle might overlook might even not have fully understood—set him afire with indignation for her sake.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • The room should be moist with steam when the sulphur is set afire so that the fumes will act effectually.

  • On the floor he spread a lot of wet oakum wads to prevent the splashing of the metal setting the floor afire.

    Balsamo, The Magician | Alexander Dumas
  • As supper-time came, they set this heap afire and let it burn for an hour or two, until the great flat ledge was at a white heat.

    The Rival Campers | Ruel Perley Smith

British Dictionary definitions for afire

afire

/ (əˈfaɪə) /


adverb, adjective(postpositive)
  1. on fire; ablaze

  2. intensely interested or passionate: he was afire with enthusiasm for the new plan

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012