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fire extinguisher

fire extinguisher

noun

a portable container, usually filled with special chemicals for putting out a fire.
fire-extinguisher

fire-extinguisher

noun

a portable device for extinguishing fires, usually consisting of a canister with a directional nozzle used to direct a spray of water, chemically generated foam, inert gas, or fine powder onto the fire

fire extinguisher

American

noun

a portable container, usually filled with special chemicals for putting out a fire.

fire-extinguisher British

noun

a portable device for extinguishing fires, usually consisting of a canister with a directional nozzle used to direct a spray of water, chemically generated foam, inert gas, or fine powder onto the 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 fire extinguisher

First recorded in 1830–40

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.

Her parents made sure she knew how to use a fire extinguisher, which was very heavy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Another sprayed a fire extinguisher, sending up a white cloud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

This is like a fire extinguisher that requires a 48-hour waiting period.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 5, 2025

One video shows a man spraying a fire extinguisher at the fire before running away.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2025

Just to have something to do, I got out a fire extinguisher and blasted the smoldering toilet roll nearest the office.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023