Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense fires, present participle firing, past tense, past participle fired
1. uncountable noun
Fire is the hot, bright flames produced by things that are burning.
They saw a big flash and a huge ball of fire reaching hundreds of feet into the sky.
Many students were trapped by smoke and fire on an upper floor.
2. variable noun
Fire or a fire is an occurrence of uncontrolled burning which destroys buildings, forests, or other things.
87 people died in the fire.
A forest fire is sweeping across portions of north Maine this evening.
Much of historic Rennes was destroyed by fire in 1720.
Synonyms: flames, blaze, combustion, inferno More Synonyms of fire
3. countable noun
A fire is a burning pile of wood, coal, or other fuel that you make, for example to use for heat, light, orcooking.
There was a fire in the grate.
After the killing, he calmly lit a fire to destroy evidence.
4. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A fire is a device that uses electricity or gas to give out heat and warm a room.
[mainly British]
The gas fire was still alight.
She switched on one bar of the electric fire.
regional note: in AM, usually use heater
Synonyms: heater, radiator, convector More Synonyms of fire
5. verb
When a pot or clay object is fired, it is heated at a high temperature in a special oven, as part of the process of making it.
After the pot is dipped in this mixture, it is fired. [beVERB-ed]
I have watched the potters fire and paint their bowls and vases. [VERB noun]
firingWord forms: plural firingsvariable noun
When soft woods are used for the firing, the clay turns dark from the smoke.
6. verb
When the engine of a motor vehicle fires, an electrical spark is produced which causes the fuel to burn and the engine to work.
The engine fired and we moved off. [VERB]
7. verb [usually passive]
If a machine is fired with a particular fuel, it operates by means of that fuel.
The engines were fired with coal and needed water to keep the steam up. [beV-ed with n]
8. verb
If you fire someone with enthusiasm, you make them feel very enthusiastic. If you fire someone's imagination, you make them feel interested and excited.
...the potential to fire the imagination of an entire generation. [VERB noun]
It was Allen who fired this rivalry with real passion. [VERB noun + with]
Both his grandfathers were fired with an enthusiasm for public speaking. [beVERB-ed + with]
By Monday, the President had returned, apparently fired with new determination. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: inspire, excite, stir, stimulate More Synonyms of fire
9. uncountable noun
You can use fire to refer in an approving way to someone's energy and enthusiasm.
[approval]
I went to hear him speak and was very impressed. He seemed so full of fire.
His punishing schedule seemed to dim his fire at times.
Synonyms: passion, force, light, energy More Synonyms of fire
10.
See to catch fire
11.
See to catch fire
12.
See to fight fire with fire
13.
See fire in your belly
14.
See on fire
15.
See on fire
16.
See to play with fire
17.
See to set fire to something
18. to have irons on the fire
19. like a house on fire
20. there's no smoke without fire
Phrasal verbs:
See fire up
More Synonyms of fire
fire shooting or attacking
(faɪəʳ)
Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense fires, present participle firing, past tense, past participle fired
1. verb
If someone fires a gun or a bullet, or if they fire, a bullet is sent from a gun that they are using.
Seven people were wounded when soldiers fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds. [VERB noun]
New guns firing high explosive shells were incorporated into the battlefield. [VERB noun]
The gun was fired and Beaton was wounded a second time. [VERB noun]
Seventeen people were killed when security forces fired on demonstrators. [VERB + on]
They were firing. I screamed at them to stop. [VERB]
Synonyms: shoot, explode, discharge, detonate More Synonyms of fire
firinguncountable noun
They were under constant firing from the guns.
The firing continued even while the protestors were fleeing.
2. uncountable noun
You can use fire to refer to the shots fired from a gun or guns.
His car was raked with fire from automatic weapons.
The two were reportedly killed in an exchange of fire during a police raid.
Synonyms: bombardment, shooting, firing, shelling More Synonyms of fire
3. verb
If you fire an arrow, you send it from a bow.
He fired an arrow into a clearing in the forest. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If you fire questions at someone, you ask them a lot of questions very quickly, one after another.
They were bombarded by more than 100 representatives firing questions on pollution. [VERB noun]
5. uncountable noun [poss NOUN]
You can use fire to refer to someone's strong criticisms of something.
Synonyms: criticism, condemnation, disapproval, stick [slang] More Synonyms of fire
6.
See to draw someone's fire
7.
See draw fire
8.
See hang fire
9.
See hold your fire
10.
See hold fire
11.
See line of fire
12.
See to open fire
13.
See to return fire
14.
See under fire
15.
See under fire
16. to fire from the hip
Phrasal verbs:
See fire away
See fire off
fire dismissal
(faɪəʳ)
Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense fires, present participle firing, past tense, past participle fired
verb
If an employer fires you, they dismiss you from your job.
If he hadn't been so good at the rest of his job, I probably would have fired him. [VERB noun]
She was sent a box of chocolates along with a letter saying she was fired. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: dismiss, sack [informal], get rid of, discharge More Synonyms of fire
firingcountable noun
There was yet another round of firings.
fire in British English
(faɪə)
noun
1.
the state of combustion in which inflammable material burns, producing heat, flames, and often smoke
2.
a.
a mass of burning coal, wood, etc, used esp in a hearth to heat a room
b.
(in combination)
firewood
firelighter
3.
a destructive conflagration, as of a forest, building, etc
4.
a device for heating a room, etc
5.
something resembling a fire in light or brilliance
a diamond's fire
6.
a flash or spark of or as if of fire
7.
a.
the act of discharging weapons, artillery, etc
b.
the shells, etc, fired
8.
a burst or rapid volley
a fire of questions
9.
intense passion; ardour
10.
liveliness, as of imagination, thought, etc
11.
a burning sensation sometimes produced by drinking strong alcoholic liquor
12.
fever and inflammation
13.
a severe trial or torment (esp in the phrase go through fire and water)
14. catch fire
15. draw someone's fire
16. hang fire
17. no smoke without fire
18. on fire
19. open fire
20. play with fire
21. set fire to
22. set the world on fire
23. under fire
24. (modifier) astrology
of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius
Compare earth (sense 10), air (sense 20), water (sense 12)
verb
25.
to discharge (a firearm or projectile) or (of a firearm, etc) to be discharged
26.
to detonate (an explosive charge or device) or (of such a charge or device) to be detonated
27. (transitive) informal
to dismiss from employment
28. (transitive) ceramics
to bake in a kiln to harden the clay, fix the glaze, etc
29.
to kindle or be kindled; ignite
30. (transitive)
to provide with fuel
oil fires the heating system
31. (intransitive)
to tend a fire
32. (transitive)
to subject to heat
33. (transitive)
to heat slowly so as to dry
34. (transitive)
to arouse to strong emotion
35.
to glow or cause to glow
36. (intransitive)
(of an internal-combustion engine) to ignite
37. (intransitive)
(of grain) to become blotchy or yellow before maturity
38. veterinary science another word for cauterize
39. (intransitive) Australian informal
(of a sportsperson, etc) to play well or with enthusiasm
sentence substitute
40.
a cry to warn others of a fire
41.
the order to begin firing a gun, artillery, etc
Derived forms
fireable (ˈfireable)
adjective
fireless (ˈfireless)
adjective
firer (ˈfirer)
noun
Word origin
Old English fӯr; related to Old Saxon fiur, Old Norse fūrr, Old High German fūir, Greek pur
fire in American English
(faɪr)
noun
1.
the active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion
2.
fuel burning in a furnace, fireplace, etc.
3.
an instance of burning that is undesired, uncontrolled, and destructive
a forest fire
4.
any preparation that will burn and make a brilliant display
Greek fire
5.
a.
anything like fire, as in heat or brilliance
b.
firelike brilliance
6.
death, torture, or trial by burning
7.
extreme suffering or distress that tries one's endurance; tribulation or ordeal
8.
a feverish or inflamed condition of the body
9.
strong feeling; excitement; ardor
a speech full of fire
10.
vivid imagination
11.
a.
a discharge of firearms or artillery; shooting
b.
anything like this in speed and continuity of action
a fire of criticism
verb transitiveWord forms: fired or ˈfiring
12.
to apply fire to; make burn; ignite
13.
to supply with fuel; tend the fire of
to fire a furnace
14.
to bake (bricks, pottery, etc.) in a kiln
15.
to dry by heat
16.
to make bright or illuminate, as if by fire
17.
a.
to animate or inspire
b.
to excite, stimulate, or inflame
often with up
18.
a.
to shoot or discharge (a gun, bullet, etc.)
b.
to make explode by igniting
19.
to hurl or direct with force and suddenness
fire a rock, fire questions
20. US
to dismiss from a position; discharge
verb intransitive
21.
to start burning; flame
22.
to tend a fire
23.
to become excited or aroused
24.
to react in a specified way to firing in a kiln
a glaze that fires bright blue
25.
to shoot a firearm
26.
to discharge a projectile
the gun fired
27.
to become yellow prematurely, as corn or grain
Idioms:
between two fires
catch (on) fire
fire away
fire up
go through fire and water
miss fire
on fire
open fire
play with fire
set fire to
set the world on fire
strike fire
take fire
under fire
Derived forms
firer (ˈfirer)
noun
Word origin
ME fyr < OE, akin to Ger feuer < IE base *pewōr- > Gr pyra, pyre, Czech pýř, glowing embers; (sense 20) pun on discharge
fire in Chemical Engineering
(faɪər)
Word forms: (regular plural) fires
noun
(Chemical Engineering: Process safety)
A fire is a chemical reaction between an oxidant and a flammable substance where some of the released energy is used to make the reaction continue.
Never use gasoline in a kerosene heater because it can cause a fire or an explosion.
A fire is a process of combustion characterized by heat or smoke or flame or a combinationof these.
A fire is a chemical reaction between an oxidant and a flammable substance where some ofthe released energy is used to make the reaction continue.
More idioms containing
fire
set the heather on fire
add fuel to the fire
out of the frying pan into the fire
play with fire
light a fire under someone
hold fire
hang fire
fight fire with fire
draw someone's fire
do something with fire in your belly
come under fire
catch fire
breathe fire
the fat is in the fire
fire on all cylinders
fire blanks
a baptism of fire
have a lot of irons in the fire
get on like a house on fire
in the line of fire
fire a warning shot across someone's bows
there's no smoke without fire
not set the Thames on fire
not set the world on fire
COBUILD Collocations
fire
blazing fire
cause a fire
douse a fire
electrical fire
enemy fire
heavy fire
intense fire
machine-gun fire
mortar fire
raging fire
rifle fire
roaring fire
rocket fire
sniper fire
spark a fire
tank fire
Examples of 'fire' in a sentence
fire
The convoy also included ambulances and a fire engine and was flanked by police on motorcycles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police fired tear gas to disperse doctors protesting about salaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They led us to the first floor to watch them fire at people in front of the stage.
The Sun (2016)
I have the fire in my belly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It comes after another replacement caught fire on a plane in the US.
The Sun (2016)
It was a far harder opportunity than the one he had spurned just seconds earlier, when he fired against the bar from five yards.
The Sun (2016)
They also set fire to the lorry.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You have to keep the fire burning and this has definitely rekindled our spark.
The Sun (2016)
Time after time he rescued people under fire.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We were too close for their artillery fire.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It burned bright as fire and seemed to be dripping some kind of molten metal.
The Sun (2008)
Three smaller fires claimed another two lives.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The gamble is that the guards will not open fire.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Those with fire in their belly will rise.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are just adding fuel to the fire.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The only copy of the film itself was destroyed in a fire.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Also under scrutiny is the sprawl of homes into wilderness areas vulnerable to forest fires.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There were two ambulances and four fire engines and two helicopters here straight away.
The Sun (2013)
The code has drawn fire from some quarters as a breach of privacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We have a gas fire downstairs that has to be lit with a match.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The heat of the fire was immense.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
How do we keep the fire of enthusiasm from raging out of control?
Christianity Today (2000)
There are so many big signings to be made in the coming weeks so hold your fire.
The Sun (2015)
They were setting all the buildings on fire.
The Sun (2015)
Had a shot saved after cutting in from the left and also fired over the bar.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The cars fired up and drove in single file through the last checkpoint.
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
They fanned out in a line, calmly firing volley after volley of automatic gunfire at shoppers running into the building in search of somewhere to hide.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
Fight fire with fire
Fire is a good servant but a bad master
If you play with fire you get burnt
Out of the frying pan, into the fire
In other languages
fire
British English: fire /faɪə/ NOUN
Fire is the hot, bright flames that come from something that is burning.
The fire destroyed the forest.
American English: fire
Arabic: نار
Brazilian Portuguese: fogo
Chinese: 火
Croatian: vatra
Czech: oheň
Danish: ild
Dutch: vuur
European Spanish: fuego
Finnish: tuli
French: feu
German: Feuer
Greek: φωτιά
Italian: incendio
Japanese: 火
Korean: 불
Norwegian: bål
Polish: ogień
European Portuguese: fogo
Romanian: foc
Russian: огонь
Latin American Spanish: fuego
Swedish: eld
Thai: ไฟ
Turkish: yangın
Ukrainian: пожежа
Vietnamese: lửa
All related terms of 'fire'
fire up
If you fire up a machine, you switch it on.
on fire
If something is on fire , it is burning and being damaged or destroyed by an uncontrolled fire.
coal fire
a mass of burning coal used esp in a hearth to heat a room
draw fire
If you draw fire for something that you have done, you cause people to criticize you or attack you because of it.
fire ant
any mound-building predatory ant of the genus Solenopsis , of tropical and subtropical America, that can inflict a painful sting
fire away
If someone wants to say or ask something, you can say ' fire away ' as a way of showing that you are ready for them to speak.
fire boss
a mine official responsible for safety precautions
fire crew
team of fire fighters
fire-cure
to cure ( tobacco ) by exposure to the smoke and heat of an open fire
fire door
a door made of noncombustible material, the purpose of which is to prevent a fire from spreading within a building
fire exit
a means of exiting a building in the event of fire
fire hose
a powerful hose that can be used to control or extinguish fires, often forming part of the safety equipment of a building
fire line
a strip of open land in forest or prairie , to arrest the advance of a fire
fire off
If you fire off a shot, you send a bullet or other missile from a gun .
fire opal
an orange-red translucent variety of opal , valued as a gemstone
fire pot
the part of a household furnace in which the fire is made
fire pump
A fire pump is a piece of equipment that provides the pressure for a water supply system used if there is a fire on a drilling rig .
fire red
a strong reddish-orange color
fire risk
something which is likely to cause a fire or make a fire worse
fire sale
A fire sale is an event in which goods are sold cheaply because the shop or storeroom they were in has been damaged by fire.
fire ship
a ship filled with explosive materials, set afire and floated among an enemy's ships to destroy them
fire sign
any of the three astrological signs , Aries , Leo , or Sagittarius , that are grouped together because of the shared attributes of enthusiasm , vitality , and interest in spiritual things
fire wall
a fireproof wall to prevent the spread of fire, as from one room or compartment to the next
fox fire
the luminescence of decaying wood and plant remains, caused by various fungi
gas fire
A gas fire is a fire that produces heat by burning gas.
hang fire
If you hang fire , you delay making a decision about something.
hold fire
If you hold fire in a situation , you delay before taking action.
log fire
a fire on which logs are burned
miss fire
to fail to fire, as a gun
open fire
to start firing a gun , artillery , etc
red fire
any combustible material that burns with a bright red flame : used in flares and fireworks . The colour is usually produced by strontium salts
rim-fire
(of a cartridge ) having the primer in the rim of the base
sure-fire
A sure-fire thing is something that is certain to succeed or win .
take fire
to begin to burn
tank fire
You can use fire to refer to the shots fired from a gun or guns.
brush fire
a fire in brushwood
catch fire
to become exciting or entertaining
cease-fire
a temporary cessation of warfare by mutual agreement of the participants; truce
centre-fire
(of a cartridge ) having the primer in the centre of the base
enemy fire
You can use fire to refer to the shots fired from a gun or guns.
fire alarm
A fire alarm is a device that makes a noise , for example with a bell, to warn people when there is a fire.
fire beetle
any of numerous click beetles of the genus Pyrophorus , of tropical America, having luminous reddish or greenish spots on the body
fire blanks
to fail to achieve anything although you are trying very hard
fire blight
a disease of apples , pears , and similar fruit trees, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora and characterized by blackening of the blossoms and leaves, and cankers on the branches
fire chief
the person in charge of the fire department of a town
fire damage
damage caused to a building or other object by fire
fire drill
When there is a fire drill in a particular building, the people who work or live there practise what to do if there is a fire.
fire-eater
Fire-eaters are performers who put flaming rods into their mouths in order to entertain people.
fire engine
A fire engine is a large vehicle which carries firefighters and equipment for putting out fires.
fire escape
A fire escape is a metal staircase on the outside of a building, which can be used to escape from the building if there is a fire.
Chinese translation of 'fire'
fire
(ˈfaɪəʳ)
n
(u) (= flames) 火 (huǒ)
(c) (in fireplace, hearth) 炉(爐)火 (lúhuǒ) (团, tuán)
(c/u) (accidental) 火灾(災) (huǒzāi) (场(場), chǎng)
(u) (= shots) 射击(擊) (shèjī)
vt
(= shoot)[gun, bullet, shot, arrow]射出 (shèchū)
(= stimulate)[imagination, enthusiasm]激起 (jīqǐ)
(inf, = dismiss)[employee]解雇(僱) (jiěgù)
vi
(= shoot) 开(開)火 (kāihuǒ)
on fire起火 (qǐhuǒ)
to set fire to sth, set sth on fire放火烧(燒)某物 (fànghuǒ shāo mǒuwù)
electric/gas fire (esp Brit) 电(電)/煤气(氣)炉(爐) (diàn/méiqì lú)
美 = heater
to come/be under fire (from)遭到(来(來)自 ... 的)射击(擊) (zāodào (láizì ... de) shèjī)
to catch fire着(著)火 (zháohuǒ)
to open fire (on sb)(向某人)开(開)火 ((xiàng mǒurén) kāihuǒ)
to fire questions at sb向某人急速地连(連)续(續)发(發)问(問) (xiàng mǒurén jísù de liánxù fāwèn)