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

On February 26 – three days before the deadly incident on Al Rashid Street – videos shared with CNN by eyewitnesses showed heavy tank fire on Palestinian civilians gathered for an aid delivery along the same stretch, near the checkpoint. —Katie Polglase, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

The sheriff's department told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, that another human body part was found about one block from the scene of the car fire at about 10 p.m. on Friday. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024

The scale and flash are unrivaled, and the result is that guests are never quite sure which direction to look, lest a plume of fire emerge from a fountain or a celebrity emerge from a cabana at Cloud 22. —Sarah Khan, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024

Asked last week whether the military was concerned that more cases of indiscriminate fire had occurred over months of intensive Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, its spokesman, did not provide a substantive answer. —Amanda Taub, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

The condition of the injured is unknown, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Pickett said. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

The Burlington Fire Department fire crews quickly responded to the fire and extinguished the flames, officials said. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024

The Comcast boss is watching an unceasing five-alarm fire rage at 30 Rock, scarring the reputation of NBC News and threatening to consume multiple parts of the Cesar Conde-run NBC Universal News Group. —Oliver Darcy, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

The venue will be built over 46 acres in McKinney and feature over 250 luxury fire pit suites, along with reserved seating. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

Officers were initially sent to investigate the sound of shots being fired. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

Westlake and his union representation appealed the recommendation, but documents show the mayor fired Westlake on July 20, 2021. —Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

Both deputies were first suspended with pay, then fired effective Sept. 29, 2022. —Sadie Lacicero, arkansasonline.com, 10 Apr. 2024

The chemical recipe and firing temperature must be exact to achieve a particular color. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024

Twice, officers fired the electronic prong of a Taser into Armstrong. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024

In court, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald used the murder weapon to demonstrate how to use a cable lock to keep the gun from being fired. —Quinn Klinefelter, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024

In one of those court cases, the state's appeals court sided with a former warden who said he was improperly fired, reinstating his job after more than five years, and granting him back pay, which could add up to $300,000. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024

After courageously firing iconic boss Jose Mourinho in January, Roma assigned the head coach position to club legend Daniele De Rossi. —Daniele Proch, Forbes, 29 Mar. 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

• baptism by fire
• draw fire
• dumpster fire
• fire blight
• fire chief
• fire drill
• fire-stop
• fire sale
• open fire on
• open fire
• set the world on fire
• set something on fire
• Saint Anthony's fire
• Saint Elmo's fire
• return fire
• fire alarm
• courage under fire
• counter-fire
• exchange fire
• cease fire
• fire control
• fire ant
• fire and brimstone
• fight fire with fire
• brush fire
• fire-breathing
• fire department
• baptism of fire
• fire engine
• ball of fire
• fire escape
• fire brigade
• fire hall
• fire hydrant
• fire pit
• come under fire
• fire-eating
• fire extinguisher
• fire wall
• fire-eater
• fire hose
• fire truck
• cross fire
• fire screen
• fire topaz
• fire at will
• fire away
• fire up
• fire coral
• fire-engine red
• build a fire under
• catch fire
• Greek fire
• fire line
• fire station
• fire irons
• fire opal
• fire on all cylinders
• light a fire under (someone)
• like a house on fire
• imported fire ant
• friendly fire
• fire off
• line of fire
• sea fire
• watch fire
• fire tower
• free-fire zone
• fox fire
• where there's smoke, there's fire
• irons in the fire
• hold one's fire
• pre-fire
• there's no smoke without fire
• St. Elmo's fire
• out of the frying pan into the fire
• set a fire
• put out the fire
• rapid-fire
• iron in the fire
• return (someone's) fire
• set fire to
• put the fire out
• mystic fire topaz
• quick-fire
• play with fire
• hang fire
• St. Anthony's fire
• on fire
• under fire
• opened fire on

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