fire

1 of 3

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.

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

fire

2 of 3

verb

fired; firing

transitive verb

1

a

: to set on fire : kindle

also : ignite

fire a rocket engine

b(1)

: to give life or spirit to : inspire

the description fired his imagination

(2)

: to fill with passion or enthusiasm

—often used with up

c

: to light up as if by fire

d

: to cause to start operating

—usually used with up

fired up the engine

2

a

: to drive out or away by or as if by fire

b

: to dismiss from a position

3

a(1)

: to cause to explode : detonate

(2)

: to propel from or as if from a gun : discharge, launch

fire a rocket

(3)

: shoot sense 1b

fire a gun

(4)

: to score (a number) in a game or contest

b

: to throw with speed or force

fired the ball to first base

fire a left jab

c

: to utter with force and rapidity

4

: to apply fire or fuel to: such as

a

: to process by applying heat

fire pottery

b

: to feed or serve the fire of

fire a boiler

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take fire : kindle, ignite

b

: to begin operation : start

the engine fired

c

: to operate especially as the result of the application of an electrical impulse

the spark plug fires

2

a

: to become irritated or angry

—often used with up

b

: to become filled with excitement or enthusiasm

3

a

: to discharge a firearm

fire at close range

b

: to emit or let fly an object

4

: to tend a fire

5

: to transmit a nerve impulse

the rate at which a neuron fires

fireable

ˈfī(-ə)r-ə-bəl 

ˈfī-rə-

adjective

firer noun

FIRE

3 of 3

abbreviation

finance, insurance, and real estate

Phrases

on fire

1

: being consumed by fire : aflame

The house was on fire.

2

: performing exceedingly well

Of late, center Sami Kelleher and wing Abby Gendron have been on fire. The two have combined for 30 points over the last six games …

—Matt Williams

3

: eager, burning

He was on fire with enthusiasm.

under fire

1

: exposed to fire from an enemy's weapons

The soldier showed courage under fire.

2

: under attack

The company has come under fire for its discriminatory hiring policies.

Synonyms

Noun

• conflagration
• holocaust
• inferno

Verb

• blast
• discharge
• loose
• shoot
• squeeze off

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.

Verb

She fired the arrow at the target.

He fired several shots at the police.

He fired at the police.

The gun failed to fire.

The soldiers fired on the enemy.

The shortstop fired the ball to first base.

The angry mob fired rocks at him.

The boxer fired a left jab at his opponent's chin.

The story fired his imagination.

She had to fire several workers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Embers from the fire were carried over 2 miles and started spot fires. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024

In the face of tragedy, the armor protecting her interior fragility comes undone, and the same intense force of will that may or may not have exploded a copper pot or ignited fire to a poster directs itself inward. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024

Verb

Evans then allegedly turned the gun on the man, firing several shots as the victim attempted to swat away his gun with the baton. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

The person suggested the decision was made in response to an article in Politico magazine, which reported that a Trump campaign field director was fired for being a White nationalist. —Kristen Holmes, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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)

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b(1)

Phrases Containing fire

• ball of fire
• baptism by fire
• baptism of fire
• brush fire
• build a fire under
• catch fire
• cease 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 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
• fox fire
• free-fire zone
• friendly 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
• opened fire on
• 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 fire to
• set something on fire
• set the world on fire
• St. Anthony's fire
• St. Elmo's fire
• there's no smoke without fire
• watch fire
• where there's smoke, there's fire

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

Biographical Definition

Fire

biographical name

ˈfī(-ə)r 

Andrew Zachary 1959–     American geneticist