fire

fire

noun

Definition of FIRE

1

a destructive burning <a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently>

Synonyms conflagration, holocaust, inferno

Related Words blaze, flare-up; backfire, bonfire, brush fire, campfire, forest fire, wildfire; arson

2

depth of feeling <had she the fire in her heart that a run for the White House requires?>

Synonyms ardency, emotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fire, heat, intenseness, intensity, passion, passionateness, vehemence, violence, warmth, white heat

Related Words cathexis; emotionalism, emotionality, histrionics, mawkishness, melodrama, sappiness, sentimentality; eagerness, earnestness, excitement, gusto, keenness, zest; fanaticism, fever, hot-bloodedness, infatuation, mania, obsession, zeal; compassion, responsiveness, sentiment, sympathy, tenderness; torridity, torridness

Near Antonyms aloofness, calmness, collectedness, composure, detachedness, dryness, phlegm, reserve, reservedness, reticence, taciturnity; apathy, indifference, stoicism, stoniness, unconcern; stiffness, woodenness; chilliness, coldness, coolness, frigidity, frigidness

Antonyms impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, insensibleness, insensitiveness, insensitivity

3

a test of faith, patience, or strength <asked to be sent to the front lines, as he was eager to prove himself in the fire of battle>

Synonyms cross, crucible, fire, gauntlet (also gantlet), ordeal

Related Words baptism, initiation; adversity, affliction, asperity, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, privation, tragedy, tribulation, trouble, vicissitude, woe; acid test, litmus test; challenge, complication, difficulty, grief, grievance, hardship, rigor; annoyance, discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance