fir

noun

ˈfər 

1

: any of a genus (Abies) of north temperate evergreen trees of the pine family that have flattish leaves, circular leaf scars, and erect female cones and are valued for their wood

also : any of various conifers (such as the Douglas fir) of other genera

2

: the wood of a fir

Examples of fir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 18 May 2025

And there are many other old-growth forests across the continent – including northeastern spruce fir and northern hardwoods forests, Great Lakes red pine and jack pine woodlands, southern Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests, and Great Basin bristlecone pines reaching nearly 5,000 years old. —Reed Frederick Noss, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025

For example, instead of a ribbon, use compostable twine or string with a cutting—a sprig of holly, a clipping of eucalyptus, or the branch of a fir—tucked into it. —Verity Burns, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024

Other common fire-prone trees include cypress, firs, junipers and spruces, according to the National Forest Foundation. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English fyrh; akin to Old High German forha fir, Latin quercus oak

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing fir

• balsam fir
• Douglas fir
• Fraser fir
• grand fir
• silver fir
• subalpine fir
• white fir

Rhymes for fir

• birr
• blur
• bur
• cur
• er
• fur
• furr
• gurr
• her
• murr
• myrrh
• per

Kids Definition

fir

noun

ˈfər 

1

: any of various usually large evergreen trees related to the pines some of which yield useful lumber or resins

2

: the wood of a fir

Medical Definition

fir

noun

ˈfər 

: any tree of the genus Abies see balsam fir