back-burn

verb, transitive + intransitive

ˈbak-¦bərn 

variants or backburn

back-burned or backburned; back-burning or backburning; back-burns or backburns

firefighting

: to set controlled fires to eliminate the fuel in the path of a wildfire

Much of the work has involved backburning the pine plantations and bulldozing an abundance of thick, flammable underbrush that has accumulated over the years.

—Jan Hollingsworth, Tampa Tribune, 8 June 1999

… bulldozing fire lines, backburning to deprive the fires of fuel and air-dropping fire retardant when the smoke is not too thick and the wind not too capricious.

—Gary Blonston, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 1984

An isolated cottage … lay directly in the fire's path and our five-member crew was dispatched to back-burn.

—Peter Meredith, Australian Geographic, January–March 1995

… firefighters could have dug a line to stop the fire, but backburning is much more ecologically sound …

—Tom Ragan, Albuquerque Journal, 5 July 1997

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now