Library / English Dictionary

FIRE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy

Example:

they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire

Synonyms:

fire; firing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

attack; onrush; onset; onslaught ((military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fire"):

artillery fire; cannon fire (fire delivered by artillery)

unobserved fire (fire for which the point of impact (the bursts) cannot be observed)

suppressive fire (fire on or about a weapon system to degrade its performance below what is needed to fulfill its mission objectives)

supporting fire (fire delivered by supporting units to protect or assist a unit in combat)

searching fire (fire distributed in depth by successive changes in the elevation of the gun)

scheduled fire (prearranged fire delivered at a predetermined time)

registration fire (fire delivered to obtain accurate data for subsequent effective engagement of targets)

radar fire (gunfire aimed a target that is being tracked by radar)

preparation fire (fire delivered on a target in preparation for an assault)

observed fire (fire for which the point of impact (the burst) can be seen by an observer; fire can be adjusted on the basis of the observations)

neutralization fire (fire that is delivered in order to render the target ineffective or unusable)

interdiction fire (fire directed to an area to prevent the enemy from using that area)

indirect fire (fire delivered on a target that is not itself used as the point of aim for the weapons)

harassing fire (fire designed to disturb the rest of enemy troops and to curtail movement and to lower enemy morale)

grazing fire (fire approximately parallel to the ground; the center of the cone of fire does rise above 1 meter from the ground)

antiaircraft fire (firing at enemy aircraft)

barrage; barrage fire; battery; bombardment; shelling (the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target)

broadside (the simultaneous firing of all the armament on one side of a warship)

burst; fusillade; salvo; volley (rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms)

call fire (fire delivered on a specific target in response to a request from the supported unit)

cover; covering fire (fire that makes it difficult for the enemy to fire on your own individuals or formations)

concentrated fire; massed fire (fire from two or more weapons directed at a single target or area (as fire by batteries of two or more warships))

counterfire (fire intended to neutralize or destroy enemy weapons)

counterpreparation fire (intensive prearranged fire delivered when the immanence of enemy attack is discovered)

crossfire (fire from two or more points so that the lines of fire cross)

destruction fire (fire delivered for the sole purpose of destroying material objects)

direct fire (fire delivered on a target that is visible to the person aiming it)

distributed fire (fire dispersed so as to engage effectively an area target)

fratricide; friendly fire (fire that injures or kills an ally)

hostile fire (fire that injures or kills an enemy)

Derivation:

fire (cause to go off)

fire (go off or discharge)

fire (start firing a weapon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning

Example:

they sat by the fire and talked

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

fireplace; hearth; open fireplace (an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fire"):

cookfire (a fire for cooking)

Derivation:

fire (destroy by fire)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Intense adverse criticism

Example:

don't give me any flak

Synonyms:

attack; blast; fire; flack; flak

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

criticism; unfavorable judgment (disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The event of something burning (often destructive)

Example:

they lost everything in the fire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fire"):

smudge (a smoky fire to drive away insects)

smolder; smoulder (a fire that burns with thick smoke but no flame)

grassfire; prairie fire (an uncontrolled fire in a grassy area)

forest fire (an uncontrolled fire in a wooded area)

conflagration; inferno (a very intense and uncontrolled fire)

campfire (a small outdoor fire for warmth or cooking (as at a camp))

brush fire (an uncontrolled fire that consumes brush and shrubs and bushes)

balefire; bonfire (a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration)

backfire (a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path)

Derivation:

fire (destroy by fire)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A severe trial

Example:

he went through fire and damnation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

trial; tribulation; visitation (an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Feelings of great warmth and intensity

Example:

he spoke with great ardor

Synonyms:

ardor; ardour; fervency; fervidness; fervor; fervour; fire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

passion; passionateness (a strong feeling or emotion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fire"):

zeal (excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end)

Derivation:

fiery (characterized by intense emotion)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke

Example:

fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries

Synonyms:

fire; flame; flaming

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

burning; combustion (a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fire"):

blaze; blazing (a strong flame that burns brightly)

flare (a sudden burst of flame)

ignition (the process of initiating combustion or catching fire)

Derivation:

fiery (like or suggestive of fire)

fire (bake in a kiln so as to harden)

fire (destroy by fire)

fire (provide with fuel)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking

Example:

barbecue over an open fire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

fuel (a substance that can be consumed to produce energy)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("fire" is a kind of...):

element (one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe)

Domain usage:

archaicism; archaism (the use of an archaic expression)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bake in a kiln so as to harden

Example:

fire pottery

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

bake (cook and make edible by putting in a hot oven)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

fire (the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Destroy by fire

Example:

They burned the house and his diaries

Synonyms:

burn; burn down; fire

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

destroy; ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)

Verb group:

burn; incinerate (cause to undergo combustion)

burn; combust (undergo combustion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fire"):

scorch (destroy completely by or as if by fire)

torch (burn maliciously, as by arson)

cremate (reduce to ashes)

backfire (set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They fire the trees

Derivation:

fire (the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke)

fire (the event of something burning (often destructive))

fire (a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Start or maintain a fire in

Example:

fire the furnace

Synonyms:

fire; ignite; light

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Become ignited

Example:

The furnace wouldn't fire

Synonyms:

fire; flame up

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Cause:

fire; ignite; light (start or maintain a fire in)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cause to go off

Example:

fire a bullet

Synonyms:

discharge; fire

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Cause:

discharge; fire; go off (go off or discharge)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fire"):

pop (fire a weapon with a loud explosive noise)

let drive; let fly; loose off (fire as from a gun)

blast; shoot (fire a shot)

fusillade (attack with fusillade)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

fire (the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy)

firing (the act of discharging a gun)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Go off or discharge

Example:

The gun fired

Synonyms:

discharge; fire; go off

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

fire (the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Start firing a weapon

Synonyms:

fire; open fire

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

blast; shoot (fire a shot)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

fire; firing (the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Generate an electrical impulse

Example:

the neurons fired fast

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

generate (produce (energy))

Domain category:

physiology (processes and functions of an organism)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 9

Meaning:

Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

Example:

evoke sympathy

Synonyms:

arouse; elicit; enkindle; evoke; fire; kindle; provoke; raise

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fire"):

interest (excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of)

overcome; overpower; overtake; overwhelm; sweep over; whelm (overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli)

bruise; hurt; injure; offend; spite; wound (hurt the feelings of)

shame (cause to be ashamed)

discomfit; discompose; disconcert; untune; upset (cause to lose one's composure)

anger (make angry)

excite (arouse or elicit a feeling)

excite; shake; shake up; stimulate; stir (stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of)

fire up; heat; ignite; inflame; stir up; wake (arouse or excite feelings and passions)

prick (to cause a sharp emotional pain)

infatuate (arouse unreasoning love or passion in and cause to behave in an irrational way)

rekindle (arouse again)

draw (elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.)

ask for; invite (increase the likelihood of)

strike a chord; touch a chord (evoke a reaction, response, or emotion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Drive out or away by or as if by fire

Example:

Surrender fires the cold skepticism

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

chase away; dispel; drive away; drive off; drive out; run off; turn back (force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Provide with fuel

Example:

Oil fires the furnace

Synonyms:

fire; fuel

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

fire (the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position

Example:

The company terminated 25% of its workers

Synonyms:

can; dismiss; displace; fire; force out; give notice; give the axe; give the sack; sack; send away; terminate

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "fire" is one way to...):

remove (remove from a position or an office)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fire"):

retire (make (someone) retire)

pension off (let go from employment with an attractive pension)

clean out (force out)

furlough; lay off (dismiss, usually for economic reasons)

squeeze out (force out)

dismiss; drop; send away; send packing (stop associating with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Antonym:

hire (engage or hire for work)

Derivation:

firing (the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart))

Credits

 Context examples: 

“You know I was travelling to Japan for my health,” she said, as we lingered at the fire after dinner and delighted in the movelessness of loafing.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Another had been shot at a loophole in the very act of firing into the house and now lay in agony, the pistol still smoking in his hand.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“Will you wait here by the fire, sir? or shall I give you a light in the dining-room?”

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

We raked all these out of the fire.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A part of its orb was at length hid, and I waved my brand; it sank, and with a loud scream I fired the straw, and heath, and bushes, which I had collected.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Each struck fire from the other's shield, and each endured the jarring shock as though welded to the horse beneath him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We all fell silent, and my uncle leaned his chin upon his hand, looking thoughtfully into the fire.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When dinner-time drew nigh, Catherine took a nice steak, which was all the meat she had, and put it on the fire to fry.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Molony also claims the ship backed into its Southampton berth in a bid to hide fire damage.

(UK documentary claims fire weakened RMS Titanic, Wikinews)

Once they are firing at full capacity, the thrusters can do no more to keep Cassini stably pointed, and the spacecraft will begin to tumble.

(Cassini Spacecraft Makes Its Final Approach to Saturn, NASA)