fire Definition

fire
noun fires (plural in senses 2, 3 and 4 only)

1. Flames coming from something that is burning.

Thesaurus: blaze, flames, burning, incandescence, sparks, heat, glow, warmth, luminosity, scintillation, combustion.
2. An occurrence of destructive burning of something.

Example: a warehouse fire
Example: a forest fire
Thesaurus: inferno, conflagration.
3. Mainly in homes: a mass of burning wood, coal or other fuel, usually in a grate, etc, used for warmth or cooking. Also called open fire.

Example: log fire
Example: peat fire
4. A gas or electric room-heater.

Example: gas fire
Example: electric fire
5. The discharge of firearms.

Thesaurus: bombardment, artillery attack, round, barrage, volley, fusillade, sniping, mortar attack, salvo, cross-fire.
6. The launching of a missile.

Thesaurus: bombardment, barrage, bombing, shelling, cross-fire.
7. Heat and light produced by something burning or some other source.
8. Enthusiasm; passion; ardour.

Thesaurus: enthusiasm, dash, sparkle, verve, life, intensity, vivacity, passion, animation, excitement, drive, zip, fervour, spirit.
9. Fever; a burning sensation from inflammation, etc.
10. Sparkle; brilliance (eg of a gem).
11a. astrol.
Relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, ie Aries, Leo and Sagittarius;
Example: the fire signs
11b. astrol.
One of four elements in the zodiac.

verb fired, firing

tr & intr
1. To discharge (a gun); to send off (a bullet or other missile) from a gun, catapult, bow, etc.

Example: fired the gun
Thesaurus: ignite, kindle, light, burn, inflame.
2. To launch (a rocket, missile, etc).

Thesaurus: detonate, launch, set off.
3. To detonate (an explosive).
4. Said of a gun, missile, etc: to be discharged, launched, etc.

Example: The gun fired
5. To direct (eg questions) in quick succession at someone.
6. colloq
To dismiss someone from employment, usually because of bad discipline
Example: You're fired!
Thesaurus: dismiss, discharge, let go, depose, show the door.
intr
7. Said of a vehicle engine, boiler, etc: to start working when a spark causes the fuel to burn.

Example: The motor fired
8. To put fuel into (a furnace, etc).
9. To inspire or stimulate someone.

Thesaurus: excite, stimulate, animate, arouse, rouse, inspire, incite, impassion, stir, inflame.
10. pottery.
To bake (pottery, bricks, etc) in a kiln, usually at a very high temperature.

exclamation

1. A cry, warning others of a fire.
2. The order to start firing weapons, etc.

Derivative: fireless
adj

Idiom: between two fires

Under attack from two sides.

Idiom: draw someone's fire

To deliberately divert their gunfire, criticism, etc towards oneself.

Idiom: fire away

colloq
An expression inviting someone to start saying what they have to say, especially to begin asking questions.

Idiom: go through fire and water for someone or something

To suffer or undergo danger for their sake.

Idiom: hold one's fire

To stop shooting.

Idiom: in the line of fire

Between the guns and the target, and therefore in danger of being hit.

Exposed to questioning or verbal attack from an opponent.

Idiom: on fire

Burning.

Filled with enthusiasm, love, etc.
Thesaurus: excited, impassioned, full of ardour, enthusiastic, zealous.

Idiom: open fire on someone or something

To begin shooting at them, with a gun, artillery, etc.
Thesaurus: start shooting, shoot, attack.

Idiom: play with fire

colloq
To take risks; to act recklessly.
Thesaurus: gamble, run a risk, tempt fate.

Idiom: pull something out of the fire

To rescue the situation at the last minute.

Idiom: return someone's fire

To shoot back at them.

Idiom: set fire to something (set something on fire)

To make it burn; to set light to it.

Idiom: set someone on fire

To fill them with enthusiasm, love, etc.

Idiom: under fire

Being shot at.

Being criticized or blamed. See also catch fire at catch, ceasefire.
Thesaurus: criticized, censured, under attack, in the hot seat (slang), on the spot (slang), getting heat (US slang), getting flak (slang); embattled.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon fyr.

Phrasal Verb: fire at or on someone

To discharge a gun, etc at them.

Phrasal Verb: fire someone up

To make them highly excited or agitated about something.
Example: fired him up with enthusiasm

Phrasal Verb: fire up

To catch light and produce a lively flame.
Example: The coal fired up well