firestorm

or fire storm

[ fahyuhr-stawrm ]

noun
  1. an atmospheric phenomenon, caused by a large fire, in which the rising column of air above the fire draws in strong winds often accompanied by rain.

  2. a raging fire of great intensity, as one fueled by oil or gas, that spreads rapidly.

Origin of firestorm

1
First recorded in 1575–85; fire + storm

Words Nearby firestorm

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

How to use firestorm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for firestorm

firestorm

/ (ˈfaɪəˌstɔːm) /


noun
  1. an uncontrollable blaze sustained by violent winds that are drawn into the column of rising hot air over the burning area: often the result of heavy bombing

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