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| back·fire [ bák fr ] |
intransitive verb (past and past participle back·fired, present participle back·fir·ing, 3rd person present singular back·fires) |
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| Definition: |
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1. have opposite effect: to have an effect opposite to the one intended
  The policy of mandatory testing may well backfire and do more harm than good.
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2. automotive make explosion in exhaust pipe: to produce an explosion of prematurely ignited fuel in an internal-combustion engine, or of unburned exhaust gases in the exhaust pipe
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3. forestry start fire to create firebreak: to start a fire in the path of an advancing wildfire in a forest in order to halt its advance
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noun (plural back·fires) |
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| Definition: |
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1. automotive explosion in car exhaust: an explosion of prematurely ignited fuel in an internal-combustion engine or of unburned exhaust gases in the exhaust pipe
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2. forestry fire started to create firebreak: a fire deliberately started in a forest in order to clear the ground in front of an advancing wildfire to halt its advance
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