Definition

1. Noun:

   • The process of combustion producing heat, light, and often smoke: "fire" refers to the visible, hot result of burning materials.
   • A destructive burning event: "fire" can mean an uncontrolled and often destructive event of burning, such as a house fire.
   • A controlled burning for heat or cooking: "fire" can refer to a contained combustion used for warmth, cooking, or in a fireplace.
   • Intense feeling or enthusiasm: "fire" can metaphorically describe strong emotion, passion, or spirit.
   • The shooting of guns or artillery: "fire" refers to the act of discharging firearms or weapons.

2. Verb:

   • To discharge a weapon or projectile: "fire" means to cause a gun, rocket, or similar device to shoot.
   • To dismiss from a job: "fire" means to terminate someone's employment.
   • To set on fire; to ignite: "fire" means to cause something to burn.
   • To bake or harden in a kiln: "fire" means to treat pottery or bricks with intense heat.
   • To inspire or excite: "fire" can mean to stimulate strong emotion or enthusiasm in someone.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The warmth of the fire was comforting on the cold night. (The heat from the burning material provided comfort.)
  • The building was destroyed by fire. (The building was destroyed in a burning event.)
  • We cooked marshmallows over the open fire. (We used the flames for cooking.)
  • She spoke with fire and conviction. (She spoke with great passion.)
  • The soldiers came under heavy fire. (The soldiers were targeted by gunfire.)

• Verb:

  • The officer ordered the troops to fire. (The officer ordered them to shoot their weapons.)
  • The manager had to fire the employee for repeated misconduct. (The manager had to dismiss the employee.)
  • It is dangerous to fire dry grass in the summer. (It is dangerous to set dry grass alight.)
  • The potter will fire the vase in the kiln tomorrow. (The potter will bake the vase to harden it.)
  • The coach's speech fired the team's determination to win. (The speech ignited their determination.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be on fire": to be burning; to be performing exceptionally well.

  • The house was on fire. (The house was burning.)
  • The basketball player was on fire, scoring point after point. (The player was performing brilliantly.)

• "to catch fire": to begin burning.

  • The dry leaves quickly caught fire. (The leaves began to burn.)

• "to open fire": to begin shooting.

  • The troops opened fire at dawn. (The troops began shooting at dawn.)

• "under fire": being criticized or attacked.

  • The new policy is under fire from the public. (The policy is facing strong criticism.)

Variants and Related Words

• Firefighter (n): a person whose job is to extinguish fires.

  • The firefighters arrived quickly at the scene.

• Fireplace (n): a structure for containing a domestic fire.

  • They gathered around the fireplace.

• Fireproof (adj): resistant to catching fire.

  • The safe is fireproof.

• Fiery (adj): consisting of or resembling fire; passionate.

  • He has a fiery temper. (He has a quick, passionate temper.)

Synonyms

• Noun (Flames): blaze, flames, conflagration (for a large, destructive fire).
• Verb (Shoot): shoot, discharge, let off.
• Verb (Dismiss): dismiss, sack, terminate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Fire away: an invitation to begin speaking or asking questions, often energetically.

  • "Do you have any questions?" "Yes, several." "Okay, fire away."

• Fire off: to send or say something quickly and energetically, often in succession.

  • He fired off a series of angry emails. (He sent many emails rapidly.)

• Fire up: to excite, inspire, or make someone enthusiastic; to start an engine.

  • The pep talk fired up the team. (The talk inspired the team.)
  • He fired up the generator. (He started the generator.)

Related Idioms

• Play with fire: to take foolish risks.

  • Not studying for the exam is playing with fire. (It is a very risky action.)

• Out of the frying pan and into the fire: to go from a bad situation to a worse one.

  • By quitting his stressful job without another lined up, he jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

• Where's the fire?: a humorous question asking why someone is in such a hurry.

  • "You're running down the hall!" "Where's the fire?"

• Set the world on fire: to achieve great success or fame.

  • The young inventor hoped his idea would set the world on fire.

Verb

1. provide with fuel
   • Oil fires the furnace
2. destroy by fire
   • They burned the house and his diaries
3. call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
   • arouse pity
   • raise a smile
   • evoke sympathy
4. drive out or away by or as if by fire
   • The soldiers were fired
   • Surrender fires the cold skepticism
5. go off or discharge
   • The gun fired
6. terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
   • The boss fired his secretary today
   • The company terminated 25% of its workers
7. bake in a kiln so as to harden
   • fire pottery
8. cause to go off
   • fire a gun
   • fire a bullet
9. start firing a weapon

Noun

1. intense adverse criticism
   • Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party
   • the government has come under attack
   • don't give me any flak
2. a severe trial
   • he went through fire and damnation
3. fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking
   • put the kettle on the fire
   • barbecue over an open fire
4. feelings of great warmth and intensity
   • he spoke with great ardor
5. once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
6. a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
   • they sat by the fire and talked
7. the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
   • fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
8. the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
   • hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes
   • they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire
9. the event of something burning (often destructive)
   • they lost everything in the fire