fire

UK: /ˈfaɪə^r/ US: /faɪr/ ,(fī^ər)

Inflections of 'fire' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

fires

v 3rd person singular

firing

v pres p

fired

v past

fired

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fire /faɪr/   n., v., fired, fir•ing. 
n. 

1. Chemistry [uncountable] a state, process, or instance of light, heat, and flame due to burning.
2. [countable] a burning mass of fuel, such as on a hearth.
3. the destructive burning of a building, town, forest, etc.;
   conflagration:
   [countable] several brush fires.
4. burning passion;
   ardor;
   excitement:
   [uncountable] The general gave a speech that was full of fire and aroused his men.
5. the shooting or discharge of firearms:
   [uncountable] The enemy returned fire.

v. 

6. to set on fire:
   [~ + object] It took several matches to fire the wood.
7. Ceramics [~ + object] to bake (pottery) in a kiln.
8. to arouse:
   [~ + object] a teacher who fired my interest in astronomy.
9. to discharge (a gun): [~ + object]
   The officers fired their pistols at the suspect.
   [no object]
   Fire when ready.
10. to dismiss from a job:
    [~ + object] The boss fired her.

Idioms

11. Idioms catch (on) fire, [no obj] to become ignited;
    burn:
    The wet logs just wouldn't catch (on) fire.
12. Idioms play with fire, [no obj] to trifle with a serious or dangerous matter.
13. Idioms under fire:
    • under attack, esp. by military forces.
    • under censure or criticism:
      a candidate under fire for allegations about his finances.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fire  (fī^ər), n., v., fired, fir•ing. 
n. 

1. a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame.
2. a burning mass of material, as on a hearth or in a furnace.
3. the destructive burning of a building, town, forest, etc.;
   conflagration.
4. heat used for cooking, esp. the lighted burner of a stove:
   Put the kettle on the fire.
5. Ancient History See Greek fire. 
6. flashing light;
   luminous appearance.
7. brilliance, as of a gem.
8. burning passion;
   excitement or enthusiasm;
   ardor.
9. liveliness of imagination.
10. fever or inflammation.
11. severe trial or trouble;
    ordeal.
12. exposure to fire as a means of torture or ordeal.
13. strength, as of an alcoholic beverage.
14. a spark or sparks.
15. the discharge of firearms:
    enemy fire.
16. the effect of firing military weapons:
    to pour fire upon the enemy.
17. British Terms a gas or electric heater used for heating a room.
18. [Literary.] a luminous object, as a star:
    heavenly fires.
19. Idioms between two fires, under physical or verbal attack from two or more sides simultaneously:
    The senator is between two fires because of his stand on the bill.
20. Idioms, Informal Terms build a fire under, [Informal.] to cause or urge to take action, make a decision quickly, or work faster:
    If somebody doesn't build a fire under that committee, it will never reach a decision.
21. Idioms catch fire:
    • Also, catch on fire. to become ignited;
      burn:
      The sofa caught fire from a lighted cigarette.
    • to create enthusiasm:
      His new book did not catch fire among his followers.
22. Idioms fight fire with fire, to use the same tactics as one's opponent;
    return like for like.
23. Idioms go through fire and water, to brave any danger or endure any trial:
    He said he would go through fire and water to win her hand.
24. Idioms hang fire:
    • to be delayed in exploding, or fail to explode.
    • to be undecided, postponed, or delayed:
      The new housing project is hanging fire because of concerted opposition.
25. Idioms miss fire:
    • to fail to explode or discharge, as a firearm.
    • to fail to produce the desired effect;
      be unsuccessful:
      He repeated the joke, but it missed fire the second time.
26. Idioms on fire:
    • ignited;
      burning;
      afire.
    • eager;
      ardent;
      zealous:
      They were on fire to prove themselves in competition.
27. Idioms play with fire, to trifle with a serious or dangerous matter:
    He didn't realize that insulting the border guards was playing with fire.
28. Idioms set fire to:
    • to cause to burn;
      ignite.
    • to excite;
      arouse;
      inflame:
      The painting set fire to the composer's imagination.
      Also, set on fire. 
29. Idioms take fire:
    • Idioms to become ignited;
      burn.
    • Idioms to become inspired with enthusiasm or zeal:
      Everyone who heard him speak immediately took fire.
30. under fire:
    • Idioms under attack, esp. by military forces.
    • Idioms under censure or criticism:
      The school administration is under fire for its policies.

v.t. 

31. to set on fire.
32. to supply with fuel;
    attend to the fire of:
    They fired the boiler.
33. to expose to the action of fire;
    subject to heat.
34. to apply heat to in a kiln for baking or glazing;
    burn.
35. to heat very slowly for the purpose of drying, as tea.
36. to inflame, as with passion;
    fill with ardor.
37. to inspire.
38. to light or cause to glow as if on fire.
39. to discharge (a gun).
40. to project (a bullet or the like) by or as if by discharging from a gun.
41. to subject to explosion or explosive force, as a mine.
42. to hurl;
    throw:
    to fire a stone through a window.
43. to dismiss from a job.
44. Veterinary Diseases to apply a heated iron to (the skin) in order to create a local inflammation of the superficial structures, with the intention of favorably affecting deeper inflammatory processes.
45. to drive out or away by or as by fire.

v.i. 

46. to take fire;
    be kindled.
47. to glow as if on fire.
48. to become inflamed with passion;
    become excited.
49. to shoot, as a gun.
50. to discharge a gun:
    to fire at a fleeing enemy.
51. to hurl a projectile.
52. Music and Dance to ring the bells of a chime all at once.
53. (of plant leaves) to turn yellow or brown before the plant matures.
54. Automotive (of an internal-combustion engine) to cause ignition of the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder or cylinders.
55. Physiology (of a nerve cell) to discharge an electric impulse.
56. Informal Terms fire away, to begin to talk and continue without slackening, as to ask a series of questions:
    The reporters fired away at the president.
57. fire off:
    • to discharge (as weapons, ammunition, etc.):
      Police fired off canisters of tear gas.
    • to write and send hurriedly:
      She fired off an angry letter to her congressman.

• bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English fȳr; cognate with Old Norse fūrr, German Feuer, Greek pŷr (see pyro-); (verb, verbal) Middle English firen to kindle, inflame, derivative of the noun, nominal

fir′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fire / faɪə/ noun

1. the state of combustion in which inflammable material burns, producing heat, flames, and often smoke
2. a mass of burning coal, wood, etc, used esp in a hearth to heat a room
3. (in combination): firewood, firelighter
4. a destructive conflagration, as of a forest, building, etc
5. a device for heating a room, etc
6. something resembling a fire in light or brilliance: a diamond's fire
7. a flash or spark of or as if of fire
8. the act of discharging weapons, artillery, etc
9. the shells, etc, fired
10. a burst or rapid volley: a fire of questions
11. intense passion; ardour
12. liveliness, as of imagination, thought, etc
13. a burning sensation sometimes produced by drinking strong alcoholic liquor
14. fever and inflammation
15. a severe trial or torment (esp in the phrase go through fire and water)
16. catch fire ⇒ to ignite
17. draw someone's fire ⇒ to attract the criticism or censure of someone
18. hang fire ⇒ to delay firing
19. to delay or be delayed
20. no smoke without fire ⇒ the evidence strongly suggests something has indeed happened
21. on fire ⇒ in a state of ignition
22. ardent or eager
23. playing or performing at the height of one's abilities
24. open fire ⇒ to start firing a gun, artillery, etc
25. play with fire ⇒ to be involved in something risky
26. set fire to, set on fire ⇒ to ignite
27. to arouse or excite
28. set the world on fire, set the Thames on fire, set the heather on fire ⇒ to cause a great sensation
29. under fire ⇒ being attacked, as by weapons or by harsh criticism
30. (modifier) of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius
    Compare earth10, water12

verb

1. to discharge (a firearm or projectile) or (of a firearm, etc) to be discharged
2. to detonate (an explosive charge or device) or (of such a charge or device) to be detonated
3. (transitive) to dismiss from employment
4. (transitive) to bake in a kiln to harden the clay, fix the glaze, etc
5. to kindle or be kindled; ignite
6. (transitive) to provide with fuel: oil fires the heating system
7. (intransitive) to tend a fire
8. (transitive) to subject to heat
9. (transitive) to heat slowly so as to dry
10. (transitive) to arouse to strong emotion
11. to glow or cause to glow
12. (intransitive) (of an internal-combustion engine) to ignite
13. (intransitive) (of grain) to become blotchy or yellow before maturity
14. another word for cauterize
15. (intransitive) (of a sportsperson, etc) to play well or with enthusiasm

sentence_substitute

1. a cry to warn others of a fire
2. the order to begin firing a gun, artillery, etc

Etymology: Old English fӯr; related to Old Saxon fiur, Old Norse fūrr, Old High German fūir, Greek pur

ˈfirer noun