Meaning & Definition of Fire in English

1. The event of something burning (often destructive)

• "They lost everything in the fire"

2. 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"

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

• "Fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries"

4. A fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning

• "They sat by the fire and talked"

5. Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (empedocles)

6. Feelings of great warmth and intensity

• "He spoke with great ardor"

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

• "Put the kettle on the fire"

• "Barbecue over an open fire"

8. A severe trial

• "He went through fire and damnation"

9. Intense adverse criticism

• "Clinton directed his fire at the republican party"

• "The government has come under attack"

• "Don't give me any flak"

1. Start firing a weapon

2. Cause to go off

• "Fire a gun"

• "Fire a bullet"

3. Bake in a kiln so as to harden

• "Fire pottery"

4. Terminate the employment of

• Discharge from an office or position

• "The boss fired his secretary today"

• "The company terminated 25% of its workers"

5. Go off or discharge

• "The gun fired"

6. Drive out or away by or as if by fire

• "The soldiers were fired"

• "Surrender fires the cold skepticism"

7. Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

• "Arouse pity"

• "Raise a smile"

• "Evoke sympathy"

8. Destroy by fire

• "They burned the house and his diaries"

9. Provide with fuel

• "Oil fires the furnace"