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  • fir
    fir
    noun
    any coniferous tree belonging to the genus Abies, of the pine family, characterized by its pyramidal style of growth, flat needles, and erect cones.
  • FIR
    FIR
    abbreviation
    far-infrared radiation.
Synonyms

fir

1 American  
[fur] / fɜr /

noun

  • firs
    plural
  1. any coniferous tree belonging to the genus Abies, of the pine family, characterized by its pyramidal style of growth, flat needles, and erect cones.

  2. the wood of such a tree.


FIR 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. far-infrared radiation.


fir British  
/ fɜː /

noun

  1. any pyramidal coniferous tree of the N temperate genus Abies , having single needle-like leaves and erect cones: family Pinaceae See also red fir silver fir balsam fir

  2. any of various other trees of the family Pinaceae , such as the Douglas fir

  3. the wood of any of these trees

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of fir

1250–1300; Middle English firre, Old English fyrh; cognate with Old Saxon furie; akin to Old English furh- (in fuhrwudu pine), Old Norse fura fir, Latin quercus oak (< *perkwu- )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A similarly large decline occurred in pellets from termites fed Douglas fir, a wood commonly used for house framing.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

The Montana ranch where he lives now, surrounded by fir and pine trees, the shadows of the Bitterroots and silence, is the perfect retirement home, although it’s one Vachon found more by accident than design.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026

At last, we found it: a sturdy Douglas fir with boughs that had pleasant symmetry and enough firmness to carry ornaments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025

Ford’s fir and birch-burners are radiant examples of human-made art triumphing over digital manufacture.

From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025

Forest giants like hemlock, Douglas fir, and Sitka spruce waited in the wings.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Satish Salian's accusations are only allegations so far, but they have formed the basis of a new investigation by the CBI, which last week registered an FIR based on a written complaint from him.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

But passenger jets traversing Cyprus’ FIR have received differing flight instructions, leading to “confusion and misunderstanding” among pilots although the risk of an accident is extremely remote, according to Europe’s air safety agency.

From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2023

The image shows shock layers around the FIR 4 region as well as the outflow from the baby star.

From Space Scoop ● Feb. 20, 2023

The SHO of the police station said that since the donkey’s name is also in the FIR, it cannot be released.”

From Fox News ● Jun. 9, 2020

FIR High o'er the lordly oak I stand, And drive him on from land to land.

From Poems By The Way & Love Is Enough by William Morris

Reports suggested that the region might contain Taiwan's largest concentration of Taiwania firs.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026

Would retaining a subset of old firs help new ones to thrive?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

Across the river on a span built by Romans and following the path through firs and beech, we soon reach a bend where the Irati turns back south.

From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025

One of his firs rules: “Always have class.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2024

For more than a century, people had come to swim and camp under the firs that towered hundreds of feet overhead.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

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