Definition Definition

fire - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'fire' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Fire [ n.]
- The evolution of light and heat in the combustion of bodies; combustion; state of ignition.
- Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in a stove or a furnace.
- The burning of a house or town; a conflagration.
- Anything which destroys or affects like fire.
- Ardor of passion, whether love or hate; excessive warmth; consuming violence of temper.
- Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm; capacity for ardor and zeal.
- Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star.
- Torture by burning; severe trial or affliction.
- The discharge of firearms; firing; as, the troops were exposed to a heavy fire.
2 . Fire [ v. i.]
- To take fire; to be kindled; to kindle.
- To be irritated or inflamed with passion.
- To discharge artillery or firearms; as, they fired on the town.
3 . Fire [ v. t.]
- To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire a pile.
- To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln; as, to fire pottery.
- To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge.
- To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius of a young man.
- To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler.
- To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.
- To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to fire a musket or cannon; to fire cannon balls, rockets, etc.
- To drive by fire.
- To cauterize.

Meaning of 'fire' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . fire [ n]
Meaning (1):
- fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking
Example in sentence:
  • barbecue over an open fire;
  • put the kettle on the fire
Meaning (2):
- intense adverse criticism
Example in sentence:
  • Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party;
  • don't give me any flak;
  • the government has come under attack
Meaning (3):
- the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
Example in sentence:
  • fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
Meaning (4):
- feelings of great warmth and intensity
Example in sentence:
  • he spoke with great ardor
Meaning (5):
- a severe trial
Example in sentence:
  • he went through fire and damnation
Meaning (6):
- the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
Example in sentence:
  • hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes;
  • they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire
Meaning (7):
- the event of something burning (often destructive)
Example in sentence:
  • they lost everything in the fire
Meaning (8):
- a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
Example in sentence:
  • they sat by the fire and talked
9 . fire [ v]
Meaning (9):
- call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
Example in sentence:
  • arouse pity;
  • evoke sympathy;
  • raise a smile
Meaning (10):
- cause to go off
Example in sentence:
  • fire a bullet;
  • fire a gun
Meaning (11):
- bake in a kiln so as to harden
Example in sentence:
  • fire pottery
Meaning (12):
- start or maintain a fire in
Example in sentence:
  • fire the furnace
Meaning (13):
- provide with fuel
Example in sentence:
  • Oil fires the furnace
Meaning (14):
- drive out or away by or as if by fire
Example in sentence:
  • Surrender fires the cold skepticism;
  • The soldiers were fired
Meaning (15):
- terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
Example in sentence:
  • The boss fired his secretary today;
  • The company terminated 25% of its workers
Meaning (16):
- become ignited
Example in sentence:
  • The furnace wouldn't fire
Meaning (17):
- go off or discharge
Example in sentence:
  • The gun fired
Meaning (18):
- generate an electrical impulse
Example in sentence:
  • the neurons fired fast
Meaning (19):
- destroy by fire
Example in sentence:
  • They burned the house and his diaries

Nearby Words:

fir fir tree fire beetle fire-fanged fire-new fire-set firearm fireback fireball firebare

See 'fire' also in:

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