fire

[ fahyuhr ]

/ faɪər /

noun

a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame.

a burning mass of material, as on a hearth or in a furnace.

the destructive burning of a building, town, forest, etc.; conflagration.

heat used for cooking, especially the lighted burner of a stove: Put the kettle on the fire.

Greek fire.

flashing light; luminous appearance.

brilliance, as of a gem.

burning passion; excitement or enthusiasm; ardor.

liveliness of imagination.

fever or inflammation.

severe trial or trouble; ordeal.

exposure to fire as a means of torture or ordeal.

strength, as of an alcoholic beverage.

a spark or sparks.

the discharge of firearms: enemy fire.

the effect of firing military weapons: to pour fire upon the enemy.

British. a gas or electric heater used for heating a room.

Literary. a luminous object, as a star: heavenly fires.

verb (used with object), fired, fir·ing.

to set on fire.

to supply with fuel or attend to the fire of (often followed by up):They fired the boiler.

to expose to the action of fire; subject to heat.

to apply heat to in a kiln for baking or glazing; burn.

to heat very slowly for the purpose of drying, as tea.

to inflame, as with passion; fill with ardor (often followed by up).

to inspire.

to light or cause to glow as if on fire.

to discharge (a gun).

to project (a bullet or the like) by or as if by discharging from a gun.

to subject to explosion or explosive force, as a mine.

to cause (a device, machine, etc.) to start working (usually followed by up): I just fired up my new laptop.

to hurl; throw: to fire a stone through a window.

to dismiss from a job.

Veterinary Medicine. to apply a heated iron to (the skin) in order to create a local inflammation of the superficial structures, with the intention of favorably affecting deeper inflammatory processes.

to drive out or away by or as by fire.

verb (used without object), fired, fir·ing.

to take fire; be kindled.

to glow as if on fire.

to become inflamed with passion; become excited.

to shoot, as a gun.

to discharge a gun: to fire at a fleeing enemy.

to hurl a projectile.

Music. to ring the bells of a chime all at once.

(of plant leaves) to turn yellow or brown before the plant matures.

(of an internal-combustion engine) to cause ignition of the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder or cylinders.

(of a nerve cell) to discharge an electric impulse.

adjective

Slang. cool, excellent, exciting, etc.: It would be so fire if we won those tickets!

Verb Phrases

fire away, Informal. to begin to talk and continue without slackening, as to ask a series of questions: The reporters fired away at the president.

fire off,

to discharge (as weapons, ammunition, etc.): Police fired off canisters of tear gas.
to write and send hurriedly: She fired off an angry letter to her congressman.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?

American English is not always as it appears to be ... get to know regional words in this quiz!

Question 1 of 10

A bet is synonymous with a wager, but what does it mean in New York?

Often it means something is impossible.

It’s another way to agree with someone.

It serves as an apology.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for fire

between two fires, under physical or verbal attack from two or more sides simultaneously: The senator is between two fires because of his stand on the bill.

build a fire under, Informal. to cause or urge to take action, make a decision quickly, or work faster: If somebody doesn't build a fire under that committee, it will never reach a decision.

catch fire,

Also catch on fire. to become ignited; burn: The sofa caught fire from a lighted cigarette.
to create enthusiasm: His new book did not catch fire among his followers.

fight fire with fire, to use the same tactics as one's opponent; return like for like.

go through fire and water, to brave any danger or endure any trial: He said he would go through fire and water to win her hand.

hang fire,

to be delayed in exploding, or fail to explode.
to be undecided, postponed, or delayed: The new housing project is hanging fire because of concerted opposition.

miss fire,

to fail to explode or discharge, as a firearm.
to fail to produce the desired effect; be unsuccessful: He repeated the joke, but it missed fire the second time.

on fire,

ignited; burning; afire.
eager; ardent; zealous: They were on fire to prove themselves in competition.

play with fire, to trifle with a serious or dangerous matter: He didn't realize that insulting the border guards was playing with fire.

set fire to,

to cause to burn; ignite.
to excite; arouse; inflame: The painting set fire to the composer's imagination.

Also set on fire.

take fire,

to become ignited; burn.
to become inspired with enthusiasm or zeal: Everyone who heard him speak immediately took fire.

under fire,

under attack, especially by military forces.
under censure or criticism: The school administration is under fire for its policies.

Origin of fire

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English fȳr; cognate with Old Norse fūrr, German Feuer, Greek pŷr (see pyro-); (verb) Middle English firen “to kindle, inflame,” derivative of the noun; see igneous

OTHER WORDS FROM fire

firer, nouncoun·ter·fire, noun, verb (used without object), coun·ter·fired, coun·ter·fir·ing.re·fire, verb, re·fired, re·fir·ing.un·fired, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for fire

In a recent mapping project, researchers at Arizona State University and the University of California, Los Angeles found that debris flow risk in areas that experience fires will generally increase as climate change progresses.
California wildfires may give way to massive mudslides|Ula Chrobak|September 17, 2020|Popular Science
The number of days with extreme fire risk conditions across California could increase by more than 50% toward the end of the century under a scenario in which global emissions peak around 2050 and decline thereafter, according to one recent study.
Suppressing fires has failed. Here’s what California needs to do instead.|James Temple|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The official death toll for the entire fire is now 35 people, and the high-speed winds that are fueling the fires are expected to continue in the following days.
West Coast wildfire smoke is visible from outer space|María Paula Rubiano A.|September 16, 2020|Popular Science
Choking smoke from hundreds of fires, several of the largest ever to hit the west coast, stretched from Seattle to Mexico.
For millions of Americans, the wildfires made climate change real|Michael J. Coren|September 15, 2020|Quartz

On the same day, Aguila Saleh, the speaker of an eastern Parliament aligned with the general, also called for a cease-fire.
Can Libya’s Fragile Peace Survive Fresh Cracks?|Charu Kasturi|September 15, 2020|Ozy
The NOPD fired Knight in 1973 for stealing lumber from a construction site as an off-duty cop.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In 1951, Harry Truman fired Gen. Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War.
We Need Our Police to Be Better Than This|Nick Gillespie|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But others say a still-unidentified man likely fired the round that caused a lethal head wound.
Exclusive: Bin Laden ‘Shooter’ Under Investigation for Leaking Secrets|Shane Harris|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But LGBT people can still be fired or denied housing in 29 states.
State of LGBT Rights: Married on Sunday, but Fired on Monday|Gene Robinson|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cannons were fired in the heart of the tiny principality, which is no bigger than Central Park, to celebrate the news.
Princess Charlene Gives Birth To Twins Gabriella and Jacques|Tom Sykes|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fired with ambition by these successes, he pressed boldly onward to reduce the cities and lands of the east.
The History of Antiquity, Vol. I (of VI)|Max Duncker
The magazines were kept open, and every gun, big and little, stood ready to be fired at the word of command.
Fighting in Cuban Waters|Edward Stratemeyer
Burning indignation at first fired his soul, and he resolved to punish Quintal.
The Lonely Island|R.M. Ballantyne
Fancy that he fired in the air, and you've fought a duel, Giles.'
Oliver Twist, Illustrated|Charles Dickens
Red Blaze, quick as lightning, fired at the flash of the rifle.
The Guns of Shiloh|Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for fire

fire

/ (faɪə) /

noun

the state of combustion in which inflammable material burns, producing heat, flames, and often smoke

a mass of burning coal, wood, etc, used esp in a hearth to heat a room
(in combination)firewood; firelighter

a destructive conflagration, as of a forest, building, etc

a device for heating a room, etc

something resembling a fire in light or brilliancea diamond's fire

a flash or spark of or as if of fire

the act of discharging weapons, artillery, etc
the shells, etc, fired

a burst or rapid volleya fire of questions

intense passion; ardour

liveliness, as of imagination, thought, etc

a burning sensation sometimes produced by drinking strong alcoholic liquor

fever and inflammation

a severe trial or torment (esp in the phrase go through fire and water)

catch fire to ignite

draw someone's fire to attract the criticism or censure of someone

hang fire

to delay firing
to delay or be delayed

no smoke without fire the evidence strongly suggests something has indeed happened

on fire

in a state of ignition
ardent or eager
informal playing or performing at the height of one's abilities

open fire to start firing a gun, artillery, etc

play with fire to be involved in something risky

set fire to or set on fire British

to ignite
to arouse or excite

set the world on fire, British set the Thames on fire or Scot set the heather on fire informal to cause a great sensation

under fire being attacked, as by weapons or by harsh criticism

(modifier) astrology of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Aries, Leo, and SagittariusCompare earth (def. 10), air (def. 20), water (def. 12)

verb

to discharge (a firearm or projectile) or (of a firearm, etc) to be discharged

to detonate (an explosive charge or device) or (of such a charge or device) to be detonated

(tr) informal to dismiss from employment

(tr) ceramics to bake in a kiln to harden the clay, fix the glaze, etc

to kindle or be kindled; ignite

(tr) to provide with fueloil fires the heating system

(intr) to tend a fire

(tr) to subject to heat

(tr) to heat slowly so as to dry

(tr) to arouse to strong emotion

to glow or cause to glow

(intr) (of an internal-combustion engine) to ignite

(intr) (of grain) to become blotchy or yellow before maturity

vet science another word for cauterize

(intr) Australian informal (of a sportsman, etc) to play well or with enthusiasm

sentence substitute

a cry to warn others of a fire

the order to begin firing a gun, artillery, etc

Derived forms of fire

fireable, adjectivefireless, adjectivefirer, noun

Word Origin for fire

Old English fӯr; related to Old Saxon fiur, Old Norse fūrr, Old High German fūir, Greek pur

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

Medical definitions for fire

fire

[ fīr ]

v.

To generate an electrical impulse. Used of a neuron.

Idioms and Phrases with fire

fire

In addition to the idioms beginning with fire

fire away
fire off
fire on all cylinders
fire up

also see:

add fuel to the fire
ball of fire
baptism of fire
catch fire
caught in the cross-fire
draw fire
fat is in the fire
fight fire with fire
get on (like a house afire)
hang fire
hold one's fire
hold someone's feet to the fire
irons in the fire
light a fire under
line of fire
miss fire
no smoke without fire
on fire
open fire
out of the frying pan into the fire
play with fire
set on fire
set the world on fire
spread like wildfire
trial by fire
under fire
where's the fire

Also see underfiring.

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