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Synonyms

bonfire

American  
[bon-fahyuhr] / ˈbɒnˌfaɪər /

noun

  1. a large fire built in the open air, for warmth, entertainment, or celebration, to burn leaves, garbage, etc., or as a signal.

  2. any fire built in the open.


bonfire British  
/ ˈbɒnˌfaɪə /

noun

  1. a large outdoor fire

"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

Etymology

Origin of bonfire

1375–1425; late Middle English bone fire, i.e., a fire with bones for fuel

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.

She picked a lettuce and a tomato for a salad and dug up a sweet potato to bake in a celebration bonfire, with fresh limpets from the rocks and coconut for dessert.

From Literature

"We'll have a bonfire in the field, fresh cider, real costumes—no store-bought stuff allowed!"

From Literature

The sky pulsed red with the glow of a distant Guy Fawkes Night bonfire, and a cold, wet fog sat heavily on the town of Inverness.

From The Wall Street Journal

Masked protesters are seen taking cover behind wheelie bins and bonfires, while a row of security forces is seen in the distance.

From BBC

Derderian said she expects an uptick in potentially dangerous warming bonfires, noting that “in the past, we’ve seen people that will throw firewood into a washing machine drum.”

From Los Angeles Times