bonfirebon‧fire /ˈbɒnfaɪə $ ˈbɑːnfaɪr/ noun [countable] 
Word Origin
Word OriginWORD ORIGINbonfire
ExamplesOrigin:
1500-1600 bonfire ‘fire made from bones’ (14-17 centuries), from bone + fireEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Dad had a bonfire going behind the garage.
- The bonfire will be lit at 7.00 p.m., with fireworks starting just 15 minutes later.
- They piled up scrap wood, boxes and other junk and made a big bonfire.
- A bonfire blazed inside a small circle of stones.
- Bees flying into a bonfire ... Troopers fought troopers.
- He dug his thumbs into the eyes, a red bonfire blazing at his chest, and heard an underwater bubbling squeal.
- In the middle a large bonfire had been constructed.
- On the dunes Angus had put a match to the bonfire which crackled, spat, and flared up.
- Saying a prayer, she flung herself into her captors' bonfire.
- Somebody had lit a bonfire and we sat round it chatting until we had dried our clothes.
- They then began to light bonfires, expressing their delight.
Longman Language Activatora fire for making you warm, for cooking, or for burning things► fire
Collocations a small, controlled fire that you make in order to provide heat or to cook food: · Could you bring in some wood for the fire?· In the evenings the whole family would gather around the fire.log/coal etc fire (=a fire that burns logs, coal etc): · There's nothing more comforting than a blazing log fire.light a fire (=make it burn): · The old man lit a fire in the stove of the front room.
► bonfire a large outdoor fire used for burning dead leaves, wood, or things you do not need, or used for celebrations: light a bonfire (=make it burn): · The bonfire will be lit at 7.00 p.m., with fireworks starting just 15 minutes later.build/make a bonfire: · They piled up scrap wood, boxes and other junk and made a big bonfire.
► campfire a fire made outdoors for people who are camping, used for keeping them warm and cooking: · Never leave a campfire unattended.sit around the campfire: · That night we sat around the campfire telling stories.
WORD SETS► Outdooraprès-ski, nounbackpack, nounbackyard, nounbandstand, nounbarbecue, nounbarbecue, verbbarbie, nounbarker, nounBBQ, nounbeach ball, nounbeach chair, nounbeachcomber, nounbedroll, nounbig dipper, nounbig top, nounbig wheel, nounbilly, nounbirdseed, nounbird table, nounbivouac, nounbivouac, verbbloodhound, nounboardwalk, nounboating, nounbonfire, nounboomerang, nounbooth, nounbotanical garden, nounbriquette, nouncamp, verbcamper, nouncampground, nouncampsite, nouncampstool, nouncaravan, nouncaravanning, nouncoarse fishing, nouncompass, nouncrampon, nouncrest, verbcruise, verbcruise, nouncruiser, nouncyclist, noundovecot, noundriving range, nounduckboards, noundune buggy, nounfair, nounfairground, nounFerris wheel, nounfête, nounfield glasses, nounfish, verbfisherman, nounfishing, nounfishing line, nounfishing rod, nounfishing tackle, nounflysheet, nounFrisbee, nounfunfair, noungarden party, noungazebo, nounghost train, nounground cloth, noungroundsheet, noungun dog, nounguy, nounhammock, nounhamper, nounhelter-skelter, nounhen house, nounhide, nounhike, nounhike, verbhiker, nounhorsey, adjectiveiron rations, nounjungle gym, nounlido, nounlounger, nounmap-reading, nounmarina, nounmarquee, nounmaze, nounmenagerie, nounmerry-go-round, nounmetal detector, nounminiature golf, nounmonkey bars, nounmud, nounmudbath, nounmuddy, adjectivemud pie, nounnature reserve, nounnook, nounnudist, nounoutdoors, adverboutdoorsy, adjectiveoutfitter, nounpack, nounpack trip, nounpaddle, nounpaddle, verbpaddling pool, nounpageant, nounparade, nounparasol, nounpark, nounpark keeper, nounparkland, nounpatio, nounpavilion, nounpeg, nounpiton, nounpothole, nounPrimus, nounpromenade, nounPunch and Judy show, nounpunt, verbPYO, ramble, verbramble, nounrambler, nounrecreation ground, nounrest area, nounride, nounrod, nounroller coaster, nounroundabout, nounrubber dinghy, nounrucksack, nounrunner, nounRV, nounsailing, nounsailing boat, nounsandcastle, nounshooting stick, nounsite, nounsledge, verbsleeping bag, nounspeleology, nounsport, nounstate park, nounstock car, nounsub-aqua, adjectivesummerhouse, nounsunbathe, verbsundial, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesun lounger, nounsun-worshipper, nounsurfboard, nounswing, nounswing set, nountent, nountheme park, nountoboggan, verbtool, verbtootle, verbtopless, adjectivetorch, nountrain spotter, nounwading pool, nounwalk, nounwalker, nounwalking, nounwater bottle, nounwigwam, nounwilderness area, nounwoodcraft, nounyachting, nounyachtsman, nounyachtswoman, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► night
a large outdoor fire, either for burning waste or for a party· Firework displays thrill thousands on bonfire night.· As a result, bonfire night 1991 saw the lowest accident figures for 20 years.· Mum Debbie ran for cover cradling her baby as the firework sent a shower of fire towards bonfire night revellers in Litherland.· The tyre warehouse burned down on bonfire night last year but hundreds of tyres were left buried under rubble on the site.
VERB► light· If insects, worms and snails could scream, would you still light that bonfire?· They then began to light bonfires, expressing their delight.· The beacon was lit, and answering bonfires spread the happy news throughout the Maclean lands.· Somebody had lit a bonfire and we sat round it chatting until we had dried our clothes.
► make· Ken must be making a bonfire.· Firebug torches a building as if he were making a bonfire for his father to jump over.· I tried to make a bonfire with them on the lawn.· Then they made a bonfire of his father's music and his collection of imported Deutsche Gramophon records.· It was a cool night and some one had made a bonfire on the sand.