fire
n
1 the state of combustion in which inflammable material burns, producing heat, flames, and often smoke
a a mass of burning coal, wood, etc., used esp. in a hearth to heat a room
b (in combination)
firewood, firelighter
3 a destructive conflagration, as of a forest, building, etc.
4 a device for heating a room, etc.
5 something resembling a fire in light or brilliance
a diamond's fire
6 a flash or spark of or as if of fire
a the act of discharging weapons, artillery, etc.
b the shells, etc., fired
8 a burst or rapid volley
a fire of questions
9 intense passion; ardour
10 liveliness, as of imagination, thought, etc.
11 a burning sensation sometimes produced by drinking strong alcoholic liquor
12 fever and inflammation
13 a severe trial or torment (esp. in the phrase go through fire and water)
14 ♦
catch fire to ignite
15 ♦
draw someone's fire to attract the criticism or censure of someone
17 ♦
no smoke without fire the evidence strongly suggests something has indeed happened
19 ♦
open fire to start firing a gun, artillery, etc.
20 ♦
play with fire to be involved in something risky
21 ♦
set fire to or set on fire
22 ♦
set the world or (Brit.) the Thames or (Scot.) the heather on fire
Informal to cause a great sensation
23 ♦
under fire being attacked, as by weapons or by harsh criticism
24 modifier (Astrology) of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius
Compare →
earth →
10 →
air →
19 →
water →
12
vb
25 to discharge (a firearm or projectile) or (of a firearm, etc.) to be discharged
26 to detonate (an explosive charge or device) or (of such a charge or device) to be detonated
27 tr
Informal to dismiss from employment
28 tr (Ceramics) to bake in a kiln to harden the clay, fix the glaze, etc.
29 to kindle or be kindled; ignite
30 tr to provide with fuel
oil fires the heating system
33 tr to heat slowly so as to dry
34 tr to arouse to strong emotion
35 to glow or cause to glow
36 intr (of an internal-combustion engine) to ignite
37 intr (of grain) to become blotchy or yellow before maturity
38 (Vet. science) another word for →
cauterize
39 intr (Austral)
informal (of a sportsman, etc.) to play well or with enthusiasm
sentence substitute
40 a cry to warn others of a fire
41 the order to begin firing a gun, artillery, etc. (Old English fyr; related to Old Saxon fiur, Old Norse furr, Old High German fuir, Greek pur) ♦
fireable adj ♦
fireless adj ♦
firer n
ball of fire
n
Informal a very lively person
baptism of fire
n
1 a soldier's first experience of battle
2 any initiating ordeal or experience
3 (Christianity) the penetration of the Holy Ghost into the human spirit to purify, consecrate, and strengthen it, as was believed to have occurred initially at Pentecost
brush fire
n
1 a fire in bushes and scrub
cease-fire (Chiefly military)
n
1 a period of truce, esp. one that is temporary and a preliminary step to establishing a more permanent peace on agreed terms
interj
n
2 the order to stop firing
centre-fire
adj
1 (of a cartridge) having the primer in the centre of the base
2 (of a firearm) adapted for such cartridges, (Compare)
→
rim-fire
electric fire
n a device that provides heat for a room from an incandescent electric element
field of fire
n the area that a weapon or group of weapons can cover with fire from a given position
fire alarm
n
1 a device to give warning of fire, esp. a bell, siren, or hooter
2 a shout to warn that a fire has broken out
fire-and-brimstone
adj (of a sermon, preacher, etc.) zealous, esp. in threatening eternal damnation
fire ant
n any mound-building predatory ant of the genus Solenopsis, of tropical and subtropical America, that can inflict a painful sting
fire away
vb intr, adv; often imperative
Informal to begin to speak or to ask questions
fire blight
n a disease of apples, pears, and similar fruit trees, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora and characterized by blackening of the blossoms and leaves, and cankers on the branches
fire brigade
n (Chiefly Brit) an organized body of firefighters
fire clay
n a heat-resistant clay used in the making of firebricks, furnace linings, etc.
fire company
n
1 an insurance company selling policies relating to fire risk
2 (U.S.) an organized body of firemen
fire control
n (Military) the procedures by which weapons are brought to engage a target
fire-cure
vb tr to cure (tobacco) by exposure to the smoke and heat of an open fire
fire department
n (U.S. and Canadian) the department of a local authority responsible for the prevention and extinguishing of fires
fire door
n
1 a door made of noncombustible material, the purpose of which is to prevent a fire from spreading within a building
2 a similar door, leading to the outside of a building, that can be easily opened from inside; emergency exit
fire drill
n a rehearsal of duties or escape procedures to be followed in case of fire
fire-eater
n
1 a performer who simulates the swallowing of fire
2 a belligerent person
♦
fire-eating n, adj
fire engine
n a heavy road vehicle that carries firemen and fire-fighting equipment to a fire
fire escape
n a means of evacuating persons from a building in the event of fire, esp. a metal staircase outside the building
fire-extinguisher
n a portable device for extinguishing fires, usually consisting of a canister with a directional nozzle used to direct a spray of water, chemically generated foam, inert gas, or fine powder onto the fire
fire hydrant
n a hydrant for use as an emergency supply for fighting fires, esp. one in a street, (Also called (esp. U.S. and N.Z.))
fireplug
fire insurance
n insurance covering damage or loss caused by fire or lightning
fire irons
pl n metal fireside implements, such as poker, shovel, and tongs
fire marshal
n (U.S)
1 a public official responsible for investigating the causes of fires, enforcing fire prevention laws, etc.
2 the head of a fire prevention organization
fire opal
n an orange-red translucent variety of opal, valued as a gemstone
fire power
n (Military)
1 the amount of fire that may be delivered by a unit or weapon
2 the capability of delivering fire
fire raiser
n a person who deliberately sets fire to property
♦
fire raising n
fire screen
n
1 a decorative screen placed in the hearth when there is no fire
2 a screen placed before a fire to protect the face from intense heat
fire ship
n a vessel loaded with explosives and used, esp. formerly, as a bomb by igniting it and directing it to drift among an enemy's warships
fire station
n a building where fire-fighting vehicles and equipment are stationed and where firefighters on duty wait, (Also called (U.S.))
firehouse, station house
fire trail
n (Austral) a permanent track cleared through the bush to provide access for fire-fighting
fire walking
n a religious rite in which people walk barefoot over white-hot ashes, stones, etc.
fire watcher
n a person who watches for fires, esp. those caused by aerial bombardment
friendly fire
n (Military) firing by one's own side, esp. when it harms one's own personnel
Greek fire
n
1 a Byzantine weapon employed in naval warfare from 670 a.d. It consisted of an unknown mixture that, when wetted, exploded and was projected, burning, from tubes
2 any of several other inflammable mixtures used in warfare up to the 19th century
line of fire
n the flight path of a missile discharged or to be discharged from a firearm
liquid fire
n inflammable petroleum or other liquid used as a weapon of war in flamethrowers, etc.
quick fire
n
1 rapid continuous gunfire, esp. at a moving target
adj
♦
quick-fire
2 (Also)
quick-firing capable of or designed for quick fire
3 Informal rapid or following one another in rapid succession
quick-fire questions
rapid fire
n
1 a fast rate of gunfire
adj
♦
rapid-fire
b denoting medium-calibre mounted guns designed for rapid fire
3 done, delivered, or occurring in rapid succession
red fire
n any combustible material that burns with a bright red flame: used in flares and fireworks. The colour is usually produced by strontium salts
rim-fire
adj
1 (of a cartridge) having the primer in the rim of the base
2 (of a firearm) adapted for such cartridges, (Compare)
→
centre-fire
Saint Anthony's fire
n usually abbreviated to , St Anthony's fire (Pathol) another name for →
ergotism →
erysipelas
(C16: so named because praying to St Anthony was believed to effect a cure)
Saint Elmo's fire
n usually abbreviated to , St Elmo's fire (not in technical usage) a luminous region that sometimes appears around church spires, the masts of ships, etc. It is a corona discharge in the air caused by atmospheric electricity, (Also called)
corposant
(C16: so called because it was associated with Saint Elmo (a corruption, via Sant'Ermo, of Saint Erasmus, died 303) the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors)
sure-fire
adj usually prenominal
Informal certain to succeed or meet expectations; assured
watch fire
n a fire kept burning at night as a signal or for warmth and light by a person keeping watch