firebreak

noun

fire·break | \ ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbrāk

How to pronounce firebreak (audio)

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Definition of firebreak

: a barrier of cleared or plowed land intended to check a forest or grass fire

Examples of firebreak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some divisions fought fires nowhere near the firebreak. — Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, "An 800-mile firebreak once traversed California. What happened?," 13 Nov. 2020 The world’s biggest firebreak, a nearly 800-mile line cut into the western slope of the Sierra Nevada during the Great Depression, once protected California’s forests from the state’s ceaseless infernos. — Anna Buchmann, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: How California’s new coronavirus curfew affects you," 20 Nov. 2020 The firebreak will clear about 35 feet of dead vegetation and invasive trees from rear property lines across 2,300 feet and will allow easier access for firefighters near the San Diego River. — Karen Pearlman, San Diego Union-Tribune, "September fire in Santee riverbed leads to wider firebreak," 25 Oct. 2020 As darkness fell after a cold, windy day, McLane gave the order to dynamite several buildings along Charles, Baltimore and Lombard streets in hopes of creating a firebreak. — Emily Opilo, baltimoresun.com, "Think Baltimore’s mayor-elect is young? Meet the pack of 30-something mayors who preceded him," 24 Nov. 2020 The doe stood at one end of the firebreak, stamping her foot, before taking off again. — Will Brantley, Field & Stream, "The Rut Hunt of a Lifetime," 23 Nov. 2020 Thousands of unemployed men joined Civilian Conservation Corps camps up and down the state, building the firebreak in three years. — Anna Buchmann, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: How California’s new coronavirus curfew affects you," 20 Nov. 2020 Doug Laurie gives a tour of Ponderosa Way which was once used as a firebreak on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020 in Butte County, California. — Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, "An 800-mile firebreak once traversed California. What happened?," 13 Nov. 2020 Biden, in his campaign, had presented himself as a firebreak, a barrier against the inferno of another four years. — Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, "Pulling Our Politics Back from the Brink," 9 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'firebreak.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Firebreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firebreak. Accessed 1 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for firebreak

firebreak

noun

English Language Learners Definition of firebreak

: an area of land that has had plants and trees removed to stop the spread of a fire

See the full definition for firebreak in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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