Pronunciations (13)
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/ˈfaɪ.ə/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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[ˈfaɪ̯ə]
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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[ˈfaː(ə)]
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[ˈfɑː(ə)]
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/ˈfaɪ.ɚ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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[ˈfa̠jɚ]
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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/ˈfaɪɹ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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[fʌɪ̯ɚ]
Pronunciation notes
- Inland-Northern-American
- New-England
- Ontario
- Philadelphia
- Western
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[ˈfäːɚ]
Pronunciation notes
- Appalachia
- Southern-US
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/ˈfaɪ.ə/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- New-Zealand
-
[ˈfɑe̯ə]
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- New-Zealand
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[ˈfo̞ɪ̯.ɚ]
-
[ˈfəɪ̯.ɚ]
Noun
A (usually self-sustaining) chemical reaction involving the bonding of oxygen with carbon or other fuel, with the production of heat and the presence of flame or smouldering.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
But to me it was not despicable; I said, "Oh, you fire, I love you, you dainty pink creature, for you are beautiful—and that is enough!" and was going to gather it to my breast.
An instance of this chemical reaction, especially when intentionally created and maintained in a specific location to a useful end (such as a campfire or a hearth fire).
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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We sat about the fire singing songs and telling tales.
More examples (1)
We toted in the wood and got the fire going nice and comfortable. Lord James still set in one of the chairs and Applegate had cabbaged the other and was hugging the stove.
The occurrence, often accidental, of fire in a certain place, causing damage and danger.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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There was a fire at the school last night and the whole place burned down.
During hot and dry summers many fires in forests are caused by regardlessly discarded cigarette butts.
More examples (3)
The motive for the fires is still under investigation, and federal officials are looking into whether a hate crime was committed. Matthews is charged with three counts of simple arson on a religious building.
Efforts to fight the fires in New South Wales and Victoria were hampered as large fires converged and created their own violent weather systems. The fire created dry lightning storms so severe that planes had to be grounded.
A fire like this could be the end of a church whose congregation was already in decline.
The aforementioned chemical reaction of burning, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.
Usage- Uncountable
A heater or stove used in place of a real fire (such as an electric fire).
Usage- UK usage
- Countable
The elements necessary to start a fire.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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The fire was laid and needed to be lit.
The bullets or other projectiles fired from a gun or other ranged weapon.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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The fire from the enemy guns kept us from attacking.
A planned bombardment by artillery or similar weapons, or the capability to deliver such.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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We dominated the battlespace with our fires.
A firearm.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Examples
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I used to work at Five Below but now I keep that fire below
A barrage, volley
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- Examples
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More examples (1)
In the district of Erfurt a very heavy sheaf [...] is called the Great Mother, and is carried on the last waggon to the barn, where all hands lift it down amid a fire of jokes.
An instance of firing one or more rocket engines.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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static fire
Strength of passion, whether love or hate.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He had fire in his temper.
You call it hope—that fire of fire! It is but agony of desire: […]
Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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And bless their critic with a poet's fire.
More examples (1)
Attendance of QN meetings has been dwindling, and the creative fire drained from the organization by the dead hand of wannabe bureaucrats bend ^([sic]) on thought control. The action has long since been elsewhere.
Splendour; brilliancy; lustre; hence, a star.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Stars, hide your fires.
As in a zodiac representing the heavenly fires.
A severe trial; anything inflaming or provoking.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Red coloration in a piece of opal.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The capacity of a gemstone, especially a faceted, cut gemstone, that is transparent to visible light, to disperse white light into its multispectral component parts, resulting in a flash of different colors, the richness and dispersion of which increases the gemstone's value.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
In other words, the more times a light ray reflects within a diamond, the greater the separation of the spectral colors—and the more obvious the appearance of fire—will be. Fire in a gemstone is best defined as "the visible extent of light dispersed into spectral colors" (Reinitz et al., 2001). In a polished diamond, this is seen as flares or flashes of color that appear and disappear as the diamond, the observer, or the light source moves.
Adjective
Amazing; excellent.
Usage- not-comparable
- predicative
- Slang
- Examples
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This is fire, keep up the amazing work!
Verb
To set (something, often a building) on fire.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
["]Then I slipped up again with a box of matches, fired my heap of paper and rubbish, put the chairs and bedding thereby, led the gas to the affair, by means of an india-rubber tube, and waving a farewell to the room left it for the last time." / "You fired the house!" exclaimed Kemp. / "Fired the house. It was the only way to cover my trail – and no doubt it was insured.["]
That lamp was the mummy of a woman tied to a stout stake let into the rock, and he had fired her hair.
More examples (1)
It was long a question of debate, whether the burning of the South Side ghetto was accidental, or whether it was done by the Mercenaries; but it is definitely settled now that the ghetto was fired by the Mercenaries under orders from their chiefs.
To heat as with fire, but without setting on fire, as ceramic, metal objects, etc.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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If you fire the pottery at too high a temperature, it may crack.
They fire the wood to make it easier to put a point on the end.
More examples (1)
So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,[…]a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
To drive away by setting a fire.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Till my bad angel fire my good one out.
To terminate the employment contract of (an employee), especially for cause (such as misconduct, incompetence, or poor performance).
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
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The first, obvious choice was hysterical and fantastic Blanche – had there not been her timidity, her fear of being ‘fired’[…].
To terminate a contract with a client; to drop a client.
Usage- broadly
- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (2)
Don't be hesitant to fire a client - cull out the deadwood. If a client doesn't meet the above criteria, you are better off without him. You don't do your best work for a client you'd rather not have.
Maintaining a collegial attitude even when doing the more difficult business work, like firing a client, is another part. If you are struggling through the relationship, the client might be struggling as well, so firing them may be mutually beneficial, and you should try and do it on the best of terms.
To shoot (a gun, rocket/missile, or analogous device).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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We will fire our guns at the enemy.
The jet fired a salvo of rockets at the truck convoy.
More examples (1)
He fired his radar gun at passing cars.
To shoot a gun, cannon, or similar weapon.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.
More examples (1)
I heard that both yesterday and today, when transports of the central government carrying our soldiers arrived at Hu-lu-tao, bandit troops on the shore fired at them.
To operate a rocket engine to produce thrust.
- Examples
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The RCS thrusters fired several times to stabilize the tumbling spacecraft.
To set off an explosive in a mine.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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`Now are you both ready?' I said, as people do when they are going to fire a mine.
To shoot; to attempt to score a goal.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Andrey Arshavin equalised with a superb volley into the corner before Nicklas Bendtner coolly fired Arsenal in front.
To cause an action potential in a cell.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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When a neuron fires, it transmits information.
To forcibly direct (something).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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He answered the questions the reporters fired at him.
To initiate an event (by means of an event handler).
Usage- Transitive or intransitive
- Examples
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The event handler should only fire after all web page content has finished loading.
The queue fires a job whenever the thread pool is ready to handle it.
To inflame; to irritate, as the passions.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge
To be irritated or inflamed with passion.
Usage- Dated
- Intransitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Inexperienced girl as I was, I fired at the idea of becoming his dupe, and fancying, perhaps, that there was more in merely answering his note than it would have amounted to, I said — "That kind of thing may answer very well with button-makers, but ladies don't like it. […]
Love had fired my mind.
To animate; to give life or spirit to.
- Examples
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to fire the genius of a young man
To feed or serve the fire of.
- Examples
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to fire a boiler
More examples (2)
Driver G. A. Rowett, of the North Eastern Region's Neville Hill shed, now joined the locomotive as pilotman, and actually took over the regulator, Fireman Wheddon continuing to fire.
We left with the "Blue Train", dead on time. This time I fired all the way. […] The next day took me home again on No. E.16 with Henri Dutertre. I fired from Paris to Calais.
To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines.
To cauterize (a horse, or a part of its body).
Usage- Transitive
To catch fire; to be kindled.
Usage- Dated
- Intransitive
- Synonyms
To work as a fireman, one who keeps the fire under a steam boiler on a steam-powered ship or train.
Usage- Dated
- Intransitive
- Examples
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I fired on that train until August.
To start (an engine).
Usage- Slang
- usually
- with "up"
Of a horse: to race ahead with a burst of energy.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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I'd say he struggled to get around the course. He never fired. In other years, when Buzzy Hannum rode him, he ran well enough to win, but not this time.
To begin cooking an order.
Usage- Slang
Interjection
Command to shoot with firearms.
Noun
the event of something burning (often destructive)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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they lost everything in the fire
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
- Synonyms
- Examples
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hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes
they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire
the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
- Broader terms
- Examples
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fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
- Broader terms
- Examples
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they sat by the fire and talked
once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles), associated with the humour bile
- Broader terms
feelings of great warmth and intensity
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he spoke with great ardor
fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking
- Broader terms
- Examples
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put the kettle on the fire
barbecue over an open fire
a severe trial
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he went through fire and damnation
intense adverse criticism
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party
the government has come under attack
More examples (1)
don't give me any flak
Verb
start firing a weapon
- Synonyms
cause to go off
- Synonyms
- Examples
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fire a gun
fire a bullet
bake in a kiln so as to harden
- Broader terms
- Examples
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fire pottery
terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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The boss fired his secretary today
The company terminated 25% of its workers
go off or discharge
- Examples
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The gun fired
drive out or away by or as if by fire
- Examples
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The soldiers were fired
Surrender fires the cold skepticism
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
- Examples
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arouse pity
raise a smile
More examples (1)
evoke sympathy
destroy by fire
- Examples
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They burned the house and his diaries
provide with fuel
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Oil fires the furnace
generate an electrical impulse
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the neurons fired fast
become ignited
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The furnace wouldn't fire
start or maintain a fire in
- Examples
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fire the furnace