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.
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
Words nearby fire
fiqh, fir, Firbank, Firbolg, Firdausi, fire, fire alarm, fire-and-brimstone, fire ant, fire apparatus, fire appliance
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The tragic 2018 mudslide in Montecito, California is just one example of a post-fire flood.
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The strong winds and low humidity will continue to feed the fires, particularly in the northeast part of the blaze.
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In an overnight filing, Apple said “Epic started a fire, and poured gasoline on it, and now asks this court for emergency assistance in putting it out.”
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Make a fireThough it’s engineered to reduce exterior friction, paracord can still make a suitable bow string for the bow and drill fire-starting method.
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But what is there more irresponsible than playing with the fire of an imagined civil war in the France of today?
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Lady Edith is so sad that her sadness nearly set the whole damned house on fire.
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A fire that he insists is only picking up pace, according to top-secret intelligence briefings.
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An F-35 was destroyed on takeoff earlier in the year when a design flaw in its Pratt & Whitney F135 engine sparked a fire.
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On Christmas Day, sometime after dark, a hideous fire overtook the venue: 100 firefighters, 33 fire trucks, a four-alarm blaze.
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot|Shinan Govani|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She laid Joy down in a corner of the ravine the furthest removed from the fire; she could not have carried her another inch.
Gypsy's Cousin Joy|Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
Slip it carefully on a hot dish and serve the instant it comes from the fire.
The Story of Crisco|Marion Harris Neil
To have a fire without a fire-engine is like being married at a registry-office.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 158, January 14, 1920|Various
She started to pick busily, while Walter, taking the fish that had been cleaned, began to broil them over the fire.
The Motor Girls in the Mountains|Margaret Penrose
I will give you what I have written, and if you choose to read it and do not like it, you can throw it into the fire.
The House of Martha|Frank R. Stockton
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 fireto ignite
draw someone's fireto attract the criticism or censure of someone
hang fire
to delay firing
to delay or be delayed
no smoke without firethe evidence strongly suggests something has indeed happened
on fire
in a state of ignition
ardent or eager
informalplaying or performing at the height of one's abilities
open fireto start firing a gun, artillery, etc
play with fireto be involved in something risky
set fire toorset on fireBritish
to ignite
to arouse or excite
set the world on fire, Britishset the Thames on fireorScotset the heather on fireinformalto cause a great sensation
under firebeing attacked, as by weapons or by harsh criticism
(modifier)astrologyof 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)informalto dismiss from employment
(tr)ceramicsto 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)Australianinformal(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