fire
36 ENTRIES FOUND:
- fire (noun)
- fire (verb)
- fire–breathing (adjective)
- fire–eater (noun)
- fire alarm (noun)
- fire ant (noun)
- fire brigade (noun)
- fire department (noun)
- fire drill (noun)
- fire engine (noun)
- fire escape (noun)
- fire extinguisher (noun)
- fire hydrant (noun)
- fire sale (noun)
- fire screen (noun)
- fire station (noun)
- fire truck (noun)
- fire wall (noun)
- all–fired (adjective)
- ball of fire (noun)
- Camp Fire girl (noun)
- cease–fire (noun)
- -fired (combining form)
- quick–fire (adjective)
- rapid–fire (adjective)
- catch (verb)
- fight (verb)
- frying pan (noun)
- hang (verb)
- house (noun)
- iron (noun)
- light (verb)
- open (verb)
- play (verb)
- smoke (noun)
- world (noun)
plural
fires
plural
fires
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIRE
1
[noncount]
:
the light and heat and especially the flame produced by burning
-
Stay away from the fire.
2
:
an occurrence in which something burns
:
the destruction of something (such as a building or a forest) by fire
[count]
-
The shack was destroyed by a fire.
-
Two people died in that terrible fire.
-
How did the fire start?
-
Police think he set a fire [=deliberately started a fire] in the bedroom.
-
Firefighters put the fire out. = Firefighters put out the fire. [=firefighters stopped the fire from burning]
[noncount]
-
The shack caught (on) fire [=began to burn] when it was struck by lightning.
-
Someone set fire to the shack. [=deliberately caused the shack to burn]
3
[count]
:
a controlled occurrence of fire created by burning something (such as wood or gas) in a special area (such as in a fireplace or stove)
—
see also campfire
-
We warmed our hands over the fire.
-
She built a fire in the fireplace.
-
The fire went out and he had to light it again.
4
[noncount]
:
the shooting of weapons
-
We heard heavy rifle fire in the distance.
-
He shot at the police officer and the police officer returned his fire. [=the police officer shot back at him]
-
He and the police officer exchanged fire. [=shot at each other]
-
He was caught in the line of fire and killed.
-
The troops opened fire on [=began shooting at] the enemy.
-
Hold your fire! [=don't shoot]
-
Cease fire! [=stop shooting]
-
Several soldiers were killed by friendly fire. [=they were accidentally killed by weapons fired from their own side]
5
[noncount]
:
very heavy or harsh criticism
-
The company has drawn/taken (heavy) fire for its use of child labor overseas.
6
[noncount]
:
strong emotion, anger, enthusiasm, etc.
-
I admire her fire for teaching and helping children.
-
young lovers with their hearts full of fire [=passion]
7
[count]
British
:
a small device that uses gas or electricity to heat a room
-
Turn on/off the fire.
baptism of/by fire
fan a fire, fan the fire
fight fire with fire
from/out of the frying pan (and) into the fire
hang fire
irons in the fire
light a fire under
like a house on fire
on fire
1
:
in the process of burning
-
The house was on fire.
2
:
feeling very strong enthusiasm, love, etc.
-
He was on fire with enthusiasm.
-
young lovers with their hearts on fire
3
:
very successful
—
see also set the world on fire at 1world
-
The team has been on fire, winning 10 of its last 11 games.
play with fire
under fire
1
:
being shot at by the enemy
-
The civilians panicked when they realized they were under fire.
-
As a soldier he showed extraordinary skill and courage under fire.
2
:
exposed to criticism
:
being criticized
-
He is under fire from his political opponents.
-
The company has come under fire [=has been criticized] for using child labor overseas.
where there's smoke, there's fire
or there's no smoke without fire
2
fire
/ˈfajɚ/
verb
fires;
fired;
firing
2
fire
/ˈfajɚ/
verb
fires;
fired;
firing
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIRE
1
a
:
to shoot a weapon
— often used figuratively
[+ object]
-
fire a bullet
-
She fired the arrow at the target.
-
He fired the gun.
-
He fired several shots at the police.
[no object]
-
He fired at the police.
-
The gun failed to fire.
-
The soldiers fired on/at the enemy.
-
The officers were told to fire at will. [=to shoot when they felt that they should]
-
Reporters fired questions at her. [=they asked her many questions in a quick and forceful way]
b
[+ object]
:
to throw (something) with speed and force
-
The shortstop fired the ball to first base.
-
The angry mob fired rocks at him.
-
The boxer fired a left jab at his opponent's chin.
2
[+ object]
:
to give life or energy to (something or someone)
-
The story fired his imagination.
3
[+ object]
:
to dismiss (someone) from a job
— usually used as (be/get) fired
-
She had to fire several workers.
-
He got/was fired (from his job) after missing work.
4
[no object]
:
to begin working
— sometimes used figuratively
-
The engine/cylinders failed to fire.
-
The team got off to a slow start, but now it's firing on all cylinders. [=it's now playing very well]
5
[+ object]
technical
:
to heat (a clay pot, dish, etc.) in an oven in order to make it very hard
-
She will fire the pots later today.
fire away
informal
— used in speech to tell someone to begin asking you questions
-
“We have some questions we'd like to ask you.” “OK. Fire away.”
fire back
[phrasal verb]
:
to answer someone quickly and usually angrily
— often + at
-
After his statement, his opponent fired back.
-
He fired back at his critics.
fire off
[phrasal verb]
fire (something) off
or
fire off (something)
:
to write and send (something, such as a letter or memo) in a quick and often angry way
-
He fired off a letter of complaint.
-
She fired an e-mail off to her lawyer.
fire up
[phrasal verb]
1
fire (something) up
or
fire up (something)
a
:
to start (something) by lighting a fire
-
We fired up the grill for the barbecue.
b
:
to cause (something) to start working
-
I fired up my computer and got down to work.
-
Before we start working let's fire up the coffeemaker.
2
fire (someone) up
or
fire up (someone)
:
to fill (someone) with energy or enthusiasm
— usually used as (be/get) fired up
-
The coach fired up the players with a pep talk.
-
We were fired up for the concert.
— firing
noun, plural firings [count, noncount]-
the hiring and firing of employees
-
The pot must cool before its second firing.
