fire
noun
1. the event of something burning (often destructive)
- they lost everything in the fire
Definition categories: event, happening, occurrence, occurrent
2. the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
- hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes
- they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire
Similar word(s): firing
Definition categories: act, attack, onrush, onset, onslaught
3. the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
- fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
Similar word(s): flame, flaming
Definition categories: process, burning, combustion
4. a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
- they sat by the fire and talked
Definition categories: man–made, fireplace, hearth
5. once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
Definition categories: substance, element
6. feelings of great warmth and intensity
Similar word(s): ardor, ardour, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fervour
Definition categories: feeling, passion, passionateness
7. fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking
- put the kettle on the fire
- barbecue over an open fire
Definition categories: substance, fuel
8. a severe trial
- he went through fire and damnation
Definition categories: event, trial, tribulation, visitation
9. intense adverse criticism
- Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party
Similar word(s): attack, blast, flack, flak
Definition categories: communication, criticism
Sentences with fire as a noun:
- We sat around the fire singing songs and telling stories.
- There was a fire at the school last night and the whole place burned down.
- During hot and dry summers many fires in forests are caused by regardlessly discarded cigarette butts.
- The fire was laid and needed to be lit.
- The fire from the enemy guns kept us from attacking.
- Press fire to fire the gun.
verb
1. start firing a weapon
Definition categories: competition, blast, shoot
2. cause to go off
- fire a gun
- fire a bullet
Similar word(s): discharge
Definition categories: competition
3. bake in a kiln so as to harden
- fire pottery
Definition categories: change, bake
4. terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
- The boss fired his secretary today
Similar word(s): can, dismiss, displace, sack, terminate
Definition categories: social, remove
5. go off or discharge
- The gun fired
Similar word(s): discharge
Definition categories: competition
6. drive out or away by or as if by fire
- The soldiers were fired
- Surrender fires the cold skepticism
Definition categories: motion, dispel
7. call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
Similar word(s): arouse, elicit, enkindle, evoke, kindle, provoke, raise
Definition categories: emotion, create, make
8. destroy by fire
Similar word(s): burn
Definition categories: change, destroy, ruin
9. provide with fuel
- Oil fires the furnace
Similar word(s): fuel
Definition categories: possession, furnish, provide, render, supply
10. generate an electrical impulse
- the neurons fired fast
Definition categories: creation, generate
11. become ignited
- The furnace wouldn't fire
Definition categories: change
12. start or maintain a fire in
- fire the furnace
Similar word(s): ignite, light
Definition categories: change
Sentences with fire as a verb:
- If you fire the pottery at too high a temperature, it may crack.
- They fire the wood to make it easier to put a point on the end.
- We will fire our guns at the enemy.
- He fired his radar gun at passing cars.
- Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.
- His nail gun fired about twenty roofing nails a minute.
- When a neuron fires, it transmits information.
- He answered the questions the reporters fired at him.
- The event handler should only fire after all web page content has finished loading.
- to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge
- to fire the genius of a young man
- to fire a boiler