define fire - Yahoo Search Results

Search results

Dictionary
fire

/ˈfī(ə)r/

noun
- 1. combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke: "his house was destroyed by fire"
- ▪ a destructive burning of something: "a fire at a hotel" Similar blazeconflagrationinfernoholocaustfirestormflamesburningcombustion
- ▪ a collection of fuel, especially wood or coal, burned in a controlled way to provide heat or a means for cooking: "our small kettle was kept constantly on the fire"
- ▪ a domestic heating appliance that uses electricity or gas as fuel: British "she was freezing and keeping the fire low to save money" Similar heaterradiatorconvector
- ▪ one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology: "a fire sign"
- 2. a burning sensation in the body: "the whiskey lit a fire in the back of his throat"
- ▪ fervent or passionate emotion or enthusiasm: "the fire of their religious conviction" Similar dynamismenergyvigoranimationvitalityvibrancyexuberanceebulliencezestelanpassionardorimpetuosityintensityzealspiritlifelivelinessvervevivacityvivaciousnesssparklescintillationdashenthusiasmeagernessgustofervorfervencyforcepotencyvehemenceinspirationimaginationcreativityinventivenessflairinformal:pepvimzinggoget-up-and-gooomphpizzazz
- ▪ luminosity; glow: literary "their soft smiles light the air like a star's fire"
- 3. the shooting of projectiles from weapons, especially bullets from guns: "a burst of machine-gun fire" Similar gunfirefiringsnipingflakbombardmentfusilladevolleybarragesalvocannonade
- ▪ strong criticism or antagonism: "he directed his fire against policies promoting American capital flight" Similar criticismcensurecondemnationcastigationdenunciationopprobriumadmonishmentsvituperationscoldingchidingdisapprovalhostilityantagonismanimosityill willenmityinformal:flakbrickbatsknocksraps
verb
- 1. discharge a gun or other weapon in order to explosively propel (a bullet or projectile): "he fired a shot at the retreating prisoners" Similar launchshootdischargeejecthurlthrowsend flyinglet fly withloose offshysendinformal:popshootdischargelet offtriggerset offblastlet fly with
- ▪ discharge (a gun or other weapon): "troops fired on crowds"
- ▪ (of a gun) be discharged: "the first gun fired"
- ▪ (of a nerve or muscle cell) generate an impulse or contraction: "the signal is generated by neurons firing in response to the visual stimulus"
- ▪ direct (questions or statements, especially unwelcome ones) toward someone in rapid succession: "they fired questions at me for what seemed like ages"
- ▪ send a message aggressively, especially as one of a series: "he fired off a letter informing her that he regarded the matter with the utmost seriousness"
- 2. dismiss (an employee) from a job: informal "having to fire men who've been with me for years" Similar dismissdischargegive someone their noticelay offlet gothrow outget rid ofoustdeposemake redundantcashierinformal:sackgive the sack toaxekick outboot outgive someone the bootgive someone the bulletgive someone the (old) heave-hogive someone the pushgive someone their marching ordersshow someone the doorgive someone their cardsgive someone the elbow
- 3. supply (a furnace, engine, boiler, or power station) with fuel: "liquefied petroleum gas can fire room heaters"
- ▪ (of an internal combustion engine, or a cylinder in one) undergo ignition of its fuel when started: "the engine fired and she pushed her foot down on the accelerator" Similar ignitestartcatchget startedget going
- ▪ start (an engine or other device): "with a flick of his wrist he fired up the chainsaw"
- ▪ set fire to: archaic "I fired the straw"
- 4. stimulate or excite (the imagination or an emotion): "India fired my imagination" Similar stimulatestir upexciteenlivenawakenarouserousedraw/call forthbring outengenderevokeinflameput/breathe life intoanimateinspiremotivatequickenincitedriveimpelspur ongalvanizeelectrifytriggerimpassionOpposite deaden
- ▪ fill (someone) with enthusiasm: "in the locker room they were really fired up"
- ▪ show sudden anger: archaic "If I were to hear anyone disparage you, I would fire up in a flash"
- 5. bake or dry (pottery, bricks, etc.) in a kiln: "methane gas is being used to fire bricks at a nearby factory"
Word Origin Old Englishfȳr (noun), fȳrian ‘supply with material for a fire’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch vuur and German Feuer.
Derivatives
- 1. fireless adjective
- 2. firer noun
Scrabble Points: 7
- F
  4
- I
  1
- R
  1
- E
  1
Powered by Oxford Dictionaries
More definitions, origin and scrabble points
www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › fireFire Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › fire
- Cached
Learn the various meanings and uses of the word fire as a noun and a verb, with synonyms, examples, and etymology. Find out how to say fire in different contexts and phrases, such as on fire, under fire, and fire alarm.
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishFIRE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english
- Cached
Learn the meaning of fire as a noun and a verb in English, with different senses and usage. Find out how to use fire in phrases, idioms, and phrasal verbs.
Videos
View all
www.dictionary.com › browse › fireFIRE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

www.dictionary.com › browse › fire
- Cached
Fire definition: 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.. See examples of FIRE used in a sentence.
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › FireFire - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Fire
- Cached
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. [1] [a] At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames are produced. The flame is the visible portion of the fire.
www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishFIRE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english
- Cached
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.
www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › fireFire - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › fire
Definitions of fire. noun. the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke. “ fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries” synonyms: flame, flaming. see more. noun. once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles) see more. noun.
www.thefreedictionary.com › fireFire - definition of fire by The Free Dictionary

www.thefreedictionary.com › fire
- Cached
Fire is a rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light and is accompanied by flame. It can also mean burning intensity of feeling, luminosity, brilliance, or a severe test. See synonyms, idioms, and word history of fire.