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| fire [ fīr ] |
noun (plural fires) |
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| Definition: |
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1. destructive burning of something: a situation in which something such as a building or an area of land is destroyed or damaged by burning
(
often used before a noun
)
  destroyed by fire
fire damage
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2. pile of burning fuel: a collection of material such as logs or coal that is set alight and used as fuel for heating, cooking, or burning something
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3. blaze: the light, heat, and flames caused by something that is burning
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4. process of burning: the rapid production of light, heat, and flames from something that is burning, e.g. in the combustion of wood, coal, or petroleum
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5. arms discharge from guns: a discharge of ammunition from one or more guns
The troops advanced under heavy fire.
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6. arms launch of projectile: the process or timing of sending off a missile or rocket
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7. continuous attack: a series of things that follow each other quickly and relentlessly, especially if hostile or intimidating
She took heavy fire from her political opponents.
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8. gem's brilliance: the shine and sparkle of a gemstone
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9. passion: energy, spirit, or intensity of feeling
the composer's creative fire
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verb (past and past participle fired, present participle fir·ing, 3rd person present singular fires) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb arms discharge bullet or gun: to discharge ammunition or a projectile, or cause a weapon to do this
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2. intransitive verb arms be discharged: be activated and discharge ammunition or a projectile
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3. transitive and intransitive verb launch something forcefully: to launch something powerfully through the air, or be launched in this way
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4. transitive verb dismiss somebody from work: to dismiss somebody from employment
(
informal
)
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5. intransitive verb start up: to begin to burn fuel and start working
The engine fired and the racecar took off.
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6. transitive verb stoke or fill with fuel: to keep supplying fuel to something such as a furnace, engine, or oven
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7. transitive verb ceramics bake pottery in kiln: to put pottery into a kiln to be baked hard
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8. transitive verb strike something with force: to hit or throw something forcefully
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9. transitive verb excite somebody: to arouse strong emotion in somebody
(
often passive
)
She was fired with enthusiasm.
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10. transitive verb destroy something with fire: to cause something to burn, especially in order to destroy it
(
formal or dated
)
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11. transitive verb Malaysia tell somebody off: to criticize or reprimand somebody
(
informal
)
The boss fired me twice last week.
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interjection |
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| Definition: |
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1. warning cry: used to tell others that a dangerous fire has started
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2. command to shoot: used to command the discharge of guns or other weapons, missiles, or projectiles
Ready, aim, fire!
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| [ Old English fȳr< Indo-European] |
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| fired adjective |
| fir·er noun |
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on fire
1. in a condition of combustion in which flames, heat, and usually smoke are being produced
2. full of eagerness or passion
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open fire (on somebody or something) to begin attacking somebody or something
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play with fire to do something dangerous or risky
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set fire to something to make something start burning
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set the world on fire to do something remarkable or very successful
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under fire
1. militaryshot at by weapons
2. subject to severe criticism
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| Word Key: Synonyms |
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fire, blaze, conflagration, inferno
CORE MEANING: burning and flames
fire the light, heat, and flames caused by something burning, whether deliberately or accidentally produced;
the crackling fire in the hearth
a fire that gutted the building
blaze a brightly or intensely burning fire, or a large fire;
The blaze threatened to engulf a nearby house.
A 7,500-acre blaze closed the main road through the forest over the weekend.
conflagration a large fire that causes a great deal of damage;
The explosion of the fuel tanks consumed the plane in a terrifying conflagration.
inferno a very large fire burning fiercely and uncontrollably, or a place being consumed by a large uncontrollable fire;
The store rapidly became a roaring inferno of smoke and fire. |
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