fire

1 of 2

noun

ˈfī(-ə)r 

plural fires

often attributive

1

a(1)

: the phenomenon of combustion manifested in light, flame, and heat

(2)

: one of the four elements of the alchemists

air, water, fire, and earth

b(1)

: burning passion : ardor

young lovers with their hearts full of fire

(2)

: liveliness of imagination : inspiration

the force and fire of his oratory

2

a

: fuel in a state of combustion (as on a hearth)

warmed his hands at the crackling fire

b

British : a small gas or electric space heater

3

a

: a destructive burning (as of a building)

The shack was destroyed by a fire. Police think someone set fire to it. [= deliberately caused it to burn]

b(1)

: death or torture by fire

He confessed under threat of the fire.

(2)

: severe trial or ordeal

He had proved himself in the fire of battle.

4

: brilliancy, luminosity

the fire of a gem

5

a

: the firing of weapons (such as firearms, artillery, or missiles)

The troops were ordered to cease fire. [=stop shooting]

They opened fire on [=began shooting at] the enemy.

also : the bullets, shells, etc., that are discharged

The soldiers endured heavy fire.

see also friendly fire compare counterfire

b

: intense verbal attack or criticism

His remarks have provoked heavy fire from his political opponents.

c

: a rapidly delivered series (as of remarks)

fireless

ˈfī(-ə)r-ləs 

adjective

see also:

on fire under fire

set fire to

2 of 2

phrase

: to deliberately cause something to burn

Someone set fire to the shack.

Synonyms of fire

Noun

• inferno

Examples of fire in a Sentence

Noun

Stay away from the fire.

The shack was destroyed by a fire.

Two people died in that terrible fire.

How did the fire start?

We warmed our hands over the fire.

She built a fire in the fireplace.

The fire went out and he had to light it again.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After Corbin made his introduction to the Islanders as a whole back at the fire pit, Melanie was the first to grab him for a chat. —Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 9 June 2026

While much attention since the fire has focused on rebuilding physical structures, Nemecek said preserving the ranch’s purpose is equally important. —Daily News, 9 June 2026

Jennings later removed a rifle from his gun safe and opened fire inside the home, prompting his family to flee and report the incident to law enforcement, court documents say. —Seamus Bozeman follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Nothing remains but smoke, and fires roaming freely. —Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English fȳr; akin to Old High German fiur fire, Greek pyr

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing fire

• ball of fire
• baptism by fire
• baptism of fire
• brush fire
• build a fire under
• catch fire
• come under fire
• counter-fire
• courage under fire
• cross fire
• draw fire
• Dumpster fire
• exchange fire
• fight fire with fire
• fire alarm
• fire and brimstone
• fire ant
• fire at will
• fire away
• fire back
• fire blight
• fire-breathing
• fire brigade
• fire chief
• fire control
• fire coral
• fire department
• fire drill
• fire-eater
• fire-eating
• fire engine
• fire-engine red
• fire escape
• fire extinguisher
• fire hall
• fire hose
• fire hydrant
• fire irons
• fire line
• fire off
• fire on all cylinders
• fire opal
• fire pit
• fire-sale
• fire screen
• fire station
• fire-stop
• fire topaz
• fire tower
• fire truck
• fire up
• fire wall
• fire watcher
• fox fire
• free-fire zone
• friendly fire
• grace under fire
• Greek fire
• hang fire
• hold one's fire
• imported fire ant
• iron in the fire
• irons in the fire
• light a fire under (someone)
• like a house on fire
• line of fire
• mystic fire topaz
• on fire
• open fire
• open fire on
• out of the frying pan into the fire
• play with fire
• pre-fire
• put out the fire
• put the fire out
• quick-fire
• rapid-fire
• return fire
• return (someone's) fire
• Saint Anthony's fire
• Saint Elmo's fire
• sea fire
• set a fire
• set something on fire
• set the world on fire
• St. Anthony's fire
• St. Elmo's fire
• there's no smoke without fire
• under fire
• watch fire
• where there's smoke, there's fire

Rhymes for fire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer

Kids Definition

fire

1 of 2 noun

ˈfī(ə)r 

1

: the light and heat and especially the flame produced by burning

2

: eager liveliness : enthusiasm

3

: fuel that is burning (as in a fireplace or stove)

4

: the destructive burning of something (as a building or a forest)

5

: the shooting of guns

fire

2 of 2 verb

fired; firing

1

a

: to set on fire : kindle, ignite

b

: stir entry 1 sense 3, enliven

a story to fire the imagination

all fired up

2

: to dismiss from employment

3

: to cause to explode

fire dynamite

4

a

: to cause to be driven from or as if from a gun : launch

fire an arrow

fire a rocket

b

: to shoot off a firearm : discharge

c

: to throw with speed : hurl

fired the ball to first base

5

a

: to subject to great heat

fire pottery

b

: to feed the fire of

fire a furnace

6

a

: to begin to burn

b

: to have fuel (as in a cylinder of an engine) ignite at the proper time

7

: to transmit a nerve impulse

the neuron fired

firer noun

Medical Definition

fire

1 of 2 noun

ˈfī(ə)r 

often attributive

: fever or inflammation especially from a disease

fire

2 of 2 verb

fired; firing

transitive verb

1

: to cause to transmit a nerve impulse

2

: to sear (the leg of a horse) with a hot iron in order to convert a crippling chronic inflammation into an acute inflammation that will stimulate the natural healing responses of the body

intransitive verb

: to transmit a nerve impulse

the rate at which a neuron fires