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
1 American
[fur]
/ fɜr /
noun
-
firs
plural
-
any coniferous tree belonging to the genus Abies, of the pine family, characterized by its pyramidal style of growth, flat needles, and erect cones.
-
the wood of such a tree.
FIR
2
American
abbreviation
fir
British
/ fɜː /
noun
-
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
-
any of various other trees of the family Pinaceae , such as the Douglas fir
-
the wood of any of these trees
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
A $5 permit, a hike through the snow, and a glorious Douglas fir we covered in lights.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025
Ford’s fir and birch-burners are radiant examples of human-made art triumphing over digital manufacture.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025
There were chestnut trees, walnut trees, lime, mulberry, fir, and a fine old beech tree.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
An FIR formally records an allegation for investigation; it does not establish that a crime occurred.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 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
"LOVE YOU, FIR NOW AND ALWAYS," read a graphic on her Instagram post.
From Fox News ● Feb. 14, 2022
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
The goal was to investigate a famous group of giant Taiwania firs known as the 'Chilan Three Sisters'.
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
This spring, as in the past several years, the needles on Douglas firs are yellowing, turning red and then dropping to the ground in forests across southwestern Oregon.
From New York Times ● Jun. 6, 2024
Out of the four large windows facing the water she can see the sine curve of the coastline, the serrated firs in the distance, the glittery amethyst sea.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
