ˈfaɪə n. & v. --n. 1 a
the state or process of
combustion, in
which substances
combine chemically
with oxygen from the
air and usu.
give out bright light and
heat. b the
active principle operative in
this. c
flame or incandescence. 2 a
conflagration, a
destructive burning (forest fire). 3 a burning
fuel in a grate,
furnace, etc. b =
electric fire. c =
gas fire. 4
firing of guns. 5 a
fervour,
spirit, vivacity. b
poetic inspiration,
lively imagination. c
vehement emotion. 6 burning heat,
fever. 7 luminosity,
glow (St Elmo's fire). --v. 1 a tr.
discharge (a
gun etc.). b tr.
propel (a missile) from a gun etc. c intr. (often foll. by
at,
into, on) fire a gun or
missile. d tr.
produce (a
broadside,
salute, etc.) by discharge of guns. e intr. (of a gun etc.) be discharged. 2 tr.
cause (explosive) to
explode. 3 tr.
deliver or utter in
rapid succession (fired insults at us). 4 tr. sl.
dismiss (an employee) from a job. 5 tr. a set fire to with the
intention of destroying. b
kindle (explosives). 6 intr.
catch fire. 7 intr. (of an internal-combustion
engine, or a
cylinder in one)
undergo ignition of
its fuel. 8 tr. supply (a furnace, engine,
boiler, or
power station) with fuel. 9 tr. a
stimulate (the imagination). b
fill (a person) with
enthusiasm. 10 tr. a
bake or
dry (pottery, bricks, etc.). b
cure (tea or tobacco) by
artificial heat. 11 intr.
become heated or excited. 12 tr. cause to glow or
redden. øcatch fire
begin to burn. fire-alarm a
device for giving
warning of fire. fire and
brimstone the supposed torments of
hell. fire
away colloq. begin; go
ahead. fire-ball 1 a
large meteor. 2 a ball of flame,
esp. from a
nuclear explosion. 3 an
energetic person. 4 ball
lightning. 5
Mil.
hist. a ball filled with combustibles. fire-balloon a
balloon made buoyant by the heat of a fire burning at its
mouth. fire-blight a
disease of plants, esp. hops and
fruit trees, causing a scorched
appearance. fire-bomb an
incendiary bomb. fire-break an
obstacle to the
spread of fire in a
forest etc., esp. an
open space. fire-brick a
fireproof brick used in a grate. fire
brigade esp.
Brit. an organized
body of firemen trained and employed to
extinguish fires. fire-bug colloq. a pyromaniac. fire
company 1 = fire brigade. 2 a fire-insurance company. fire-control a
system of regulating the fire of a ship's or a fort's guns. fire
department US = fire brigade. fire
door a fire-resistant door to
prevent the spread of fire. fire-drake (in
Germanic mythology) a
fiery dragon. fire-drill 1 a
rehearsal of the procedures to be used in case of fire. 2 a
primitive device for
kindling fire with a stick and
wood. fire-eater 1 a
conjuror who appears to swallow fire. 2 a person
fond of quarrelling or fighting. fire-engine a
vehicle carrying
equipment for fighting large fires. fire-escape an
emergency staircase or
apparatus for
escape from a
building on fire. fire
extinguisher an apparatus with a jet for discharging
liquid chemicals,
water, or
foam to extinguish a fire. fire-fighter a person
whose task is to extinguish fires. fire-guard 1 a
protective screen or
grid placed in
front of a
fireplace. 2 US a fire-watcher. 3 US a fire-break. fire-hose a hose-pipe used in extinguishing fires. fire-irons
tongs, poker, and
shovel, for tending a
domestic fire. fire-lighter Brit. a
piece of
inflammable material to
help start a fire in a grate. fire-office a fire-insurance company. fire-opal
girasol. fire-plug a
hydrant for a fire-hose. fire-power 1 the destructive
capacity of guns etc. 2
financial,
intellectual, or
emotional strength. fire-practice a fire-drill. fire-raiser Brit. an arsonist. fire-raising Brit.
arson. fire-screen 1 a screen to
keep off the
direct heat of a fire. 2 a fire-guard. 3 an
ornamental screen for a fireplace. fire-ship hist. a
ship loaded with combustibles and
sent adrift to
ignite an enemy's ships etc. fire
station the
headquarters of a fire brigade. fire-step = firing-step. fire-stone
stone that resists fire, used for furnaces etc. fire-storm a
high wind or
storm following a fire caused by bombs. fire-tongs tongs for picking up pieces of
coal etc. in tending a fire. fire-trap a building
without proper provision for escape in case of fire. fire up
show sudden anger. fire-walking the (often ceremonial)
practice of
walking barefoot over white-hot stones, wood-ashes, etc. fire
warden US a person employed to prevent or extinguish fires. fire-watcher a person
keeping watch for fires, esp.
those caused by bombs. fire-water colloq.
strong alcoholic liquor. go on fire
Sc. &
Ir. catch fire. go
through fire and water
face all perils. on fire 1 burning. 2 excited. set fire to (or set on fire) ignite, kindle, cause to burn. set the
world (or Thames) on fire do
something remarkable or
sensational.
take fire catch fire.
under fire 1
being shot at. 2 being rigorously criticized or questioned. øøfireless adj. firer n. [OE fyr, fyrian, f. WG]