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wildfire

noun wild·fire \ ˈwī(-ə)ld-ˌfī(-ə)r \
|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Definition of wildfire

1 : a sweeping and destructive conflagration especially in a wilderness or a rural area
2 : greek fire
3 : a phosphorescent glow (such as ignis fatuus or fox fire)
4 : a destructive leaf-spot disease of tobacco caused by several strains of a bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae)
— like wildfire
: very rapidly
  • the news spread like wildfire

See wildfire defined for English-language learners

See wildfire defined for kids

Examples of wildfire in a Sentence

  1. The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.

Recent Examples of wildfire from the Web

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

First Known Use of wildfire

12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Phrases Related to WILDFIRE

Related Phrases

WILDFIRE Defined for English Language Learners

wildfire

noun

Definition of wildfire for English Language Learners

  • : a fire in a wild area (such as a forest) that is not controlled and that can burn a large area very quickly

WILDFIRE Defined for Kids

wildfire

noun wild·fire \ ˈwīld-ˌfīr \

Definition of wildfire for Students

: an uncontrollable fire that destroys a wide area

Learn More about wildfire

  1. See words that rhyme with wildfire Spanish Central: Translation of wildfire Nglish: Translation of wildfire for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wildfire

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