'FIRE' definitions:

Definition of 'fire'

From: WordNet
noun
The event of something burning (often destructive); "they lost everything in the fire"
noun
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" [syn: fire, firing]
noun
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke; "fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries" [syn: fire, flame, flaming]
noun
A fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning; "they sat by the fire and talked"
noun
Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
noun
Feelings of great warmth and intensity; "he spoke with great ardor" [syn: ardor, ardour, fervor, fervour, fervency, fire, fervidness]
noun
Fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking; "put the kettle on the fire"; "barbecue over an open fire"
noun
A severe trial; "he went through fire and damnation"
noun
Intense adverse criticism; "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak" [syn: fire, attack, flak, flack, blast]
verb
Start firing a weapon [syn: open fire, fire]
verb
Cause to go off; "fire a gun"; "fire a bullet" [syn: fire, discharge]
verb
Bake in a kiln so as to harden; "fire pottery"
verb
Terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position; "The boss fired his secretary today"; "The company terminated 25% of its workers" [syn: displace, fire, give notice, can, dismiss, give the axe, send away, sack, force out, give the sack, terminate] [ant: employ, engage, hire]
verb
Go off or discharge; "The gun fired" [syn: fire, discharge, go off]
verb
Drive out or away by or as if by fire; "The soldiers were fired"; "Surrender fires the cold skepticism"
verb
Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy" [syn: arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, fire, raise, provoke]
verb
Destroy by fire; "They burned the house and his diaries" [syn: burn, fire, burn down]
verb
Provide with fuel; "Oil fires the furnace" [syn: fuel, fire]

Definition of 'Fire'

From: GCIDE
  • Fire \Fire\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fired; p. pr. & vb. n. Fring.]
  • 1. To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire a pile. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln; as, to fire pottery. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge. [1913 Webster]
  • Love had fired my mind. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius of a young man. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To light up as if by fire; to illuminate. [1913 Webster]
  • [The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to fire a rifle, pistol, or cannon; to fire cannon balls, rockets, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. To drive by fire. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Till my bad angel fire my good one out. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. (Far.) To cauterize. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. to dismiss from employment, a post, or other job; to cause (a person) to cease being an employee; -- of a person. The act of firing is usually performed by that person's supervisor or employer. "You can't fire me! I quit!" [PJC]
  • To fire up,
  • 1. to light up the fires of, as of an engine; also, figuratively, to start up any machine.
  • 2. to render enthusiastic; -- of people. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Definition of 'Fire'

From: GCIDE
  • Fire \Fire\, v. i.
  • 1. To take fire; to be kindled; to kindle. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To be irritated or inflamed with passion. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To discharge artillery or firearms; as, they fired on the town. [1913 Webster]
  • To fire up, to grow irritated or angry. "He . . . fired up, and stood vigorously on his defense." --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Fire'

From: GCIDE
  • Fire \Fire\ (f[imac]r), n. [OE. fir, fyr, fur AS. f[=y]r; akin to D. vuur, OS. & OHG. fiur, G. feuer, Icel. f[=y]ri, f[=u]rr, Gr. py^r, and perh. to L. purus pure, E. pure Cf. Empyrean, Pyre.]
  • 1. The evolution of light and heat in the combustion of bodies; combustion; state of ignition. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The form of fire exhibited in the combustion of gases in an ascending stream or current is called flame. Anciently, fire, air, earth, and water were regarded as the four elements of which all things are composed. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in a stove or a furnace. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The burning of a house or town; a conflagration. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Anything which destroys or affects like fire. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Ardor of passion, whether love or hate; excessive warmth; consuming violence of temper. [1913 Webster]
  • he had fire in his temper. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm; capacity for ardor and zeal. [1913 Webster]
  • And bless their critic with a poet's fire. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star. [1913 Webster]
  • Stars, hide your fires. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • As in a zodiac representing the heavenly fires. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. Torture by burning; severe trial or affliction. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. The discharge of firearms; firing; as, the troops were exposed to a heavy fire. [1913 Webster]
  • Blue fire, Red fire, Green fire (Pyrotech.), compositions of various combustible substances, as sulphur, niter, lampblack, etc., the flames of which are colored by various metallic salts, as those of antimony, strontium, barium, etc.
  • Fire alarm (a) A signal given on the breaking out of a fire. (b) An apparatus for giving such an alarm.
  • Fire annihilator, a machine, device, or preparation to be kept at hand for extinguishing fire by smothering it with some incombustible vapor or gas, as carbonic acid.
  • Fire balloon. (a) A balloon raised in the air by the buoyancy of air heated by a fire placed in the lower part. (b) A balloon sent up at night with fireworks which ignite at a regulated height. --Simmonds.
  • Fire bar, a grate bar.
  • Fire basket, a portable grate; a cresset. --Knight.
  • Fire beetle. (Zool.) See in the Vocabulary.
  • Fire blast, a disease of plants which causes them to appear as if burnt by fire.
  • Fire box, the chamber of a furnace, steam boiler, etc., for the fire.
  • Fire brick, a refractory brick, capable of sustaining intense heat without fusion, usually made of fire clay or of siliceous material, with some cementing substance, and used for lining fire boxes, etc.
  • Fire brigade, an organized body of men for extinguished fires.
  • Fire bucket. See under Bucket.
  • Fire bug, an incendiary; one who, from malice or through mania, persistently sets fire to property; a pyromaniac. [U.S.]
  • Fire clay. See under Clay.
  • Fire company, a company of men managing an engine in extinguishing fires.
  • Fire cross. See Fiery cross. [Obs.] --Milton.
  • Fire damp. See under Damp.
  • Fire dog. See Firedog, in the Vocabulary.
  • Fire drill. (a) A series of evolutions performed by fireman for practice. (b) An apparatus for producing fire by friction, by rapidly twirling a wooden pin in a wooden socket; -- used by the Hindoos during all historic time, and by many savage peoples.
  • Fire eater. (a) A juggler who pretends to eat fire. (b) A quarrelsome person who seeks affrays; a hotspur. [Colloq.]
  • Fire engine, a portable forcing pump, usually on wheels, for throwing water to extinguish fire.
  • Fire escape, a contrivance for facilitating escape from burning buildings.
  • Fire gilding (Fine Arts), a mode of gilding with an amalgam of gold and quicksilver, the latter metal being driven off afterward by heat.
  • Fire gilt (Fine Arts), gold laid on by the process of fire gilding.
  • Fire insurance, the act or system of insuring against fire; also, a contract by which an insurance company undertakes, in consideration of the payment of a premium or small percentage -- usually made periodically -- to indemnify an owner of property from loss by fire during a specified period.
  • Fire irons, utensils for a fireplace or grate, as tongs, poker, and shovel.
  • Fire main, a pipe for water, to be used in putting out fire.
  • Fire master (Mil), an artillery officer who formerly supervised the composition of fireworks.
  • Fire office, an office at which to effect insurance against fire.
  • Fire opal, a variety of opal giving firelike reflections.
  • Fire ordeal, an ancient mode of trial, in which the test was the ability of the accused to handle or tread upon red-hot irons. --Abbot.
  • Fire pan, a pan for holding or conveying fire, especially the receptacle for the priming of a gun.
  • Fire plug, a plug or hydrant for drawing water from the main pipes in a street, building, etc., for extinguishing fires.
  • Fire policy, the writing or instrument expressing the contract of insurance against loss by fire.
  • Fire pot. (a) (Mil.) A small earthen pot filled with combustibles, formerly used as a missile in war. (b) The cast iron vessel which holds the fuel or fire in a furnace. (c) A crucible. (d) A solderer's furnace.
  • Fire raft, a raft laden with combustibles, used for setting fire to an enemy's ships.
  • Fire roll, a peculiar beat of the drum to summon men to their quarters in case of fire.
  • Fire setting (Mining), the process of softening or cracking the working face of a lode, to facilitate excavation, by exposing it to the action of fire; -- now generally superseded by the use of explosives. --Raymond.
  • Fire ship, a vessel filled with combustibles, for setting fire to an enemy's ships.
  • Fire shovel, a shovel for taking up coals of fire.
  • Fire stink, the stench from decomposing iron pyrites, caused by the formation of hydrogen sulfide. --Raymond.
  • Fire surface, the surfaces of a steam boiler which are exposed to the direct heat of the fuel and the products of combustion; heating surface.
  • Fire swab, a swab saturated with water, for cooling a gun in action and clearing away particles of powder, etc. --Farrow.
  • Fire teaser, in England, the fireman of a steam emgine.
  • Fire water, a strong alcoholic beverage; -- so called by the American Indians.
  • Fire worship, the worship of fire, which prevails chiefly in Persia, among the followers of Zoroaster, called Chebers, or Guebers, and among the Parsees of India.
  • Greek fire. See under Greek.
  • On fire, burning; hence, ardent; passionate; eager; zealous.
  • Running fire, the rapid discharge of firearms in succession by a line of troops.
  • St. Anthony's fire, erysipelas; -- an eruptive fever which St. Anthony was supposed to cure miraculously. --Hoblyn.
  • St. Elmo's fire. See under Saint Elmo.
  • To set on fire, to inflame; to kindle.
  • To take fire, to begin to burn; to fly into a passion. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'fire'

From: GCIDE
  • Command \Com*mand"\, n.
  • 1. An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an injunction. [1913 Webster]
  • Awaiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The possession or exercise of authority. [1913 Webster]
  • Command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces under his command. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of position; scope of vision; survey. [1913 Webster]
  • The steepy stand Which overlooks the vale with wide command. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the bridge. [1913 Webster]
  • He assumed an absolute command over his readers. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post, or the whole territory under the authority or control of a particular officer. [1913 Webster]
  • Word of command (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and established meaning, used in directing the movements of soldiers; as, aim; fire; shoulder arms, etc.
  • Syn: Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion; sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest. See Direction. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'FIRE'

From: Easton
  • Fire
  • For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon's temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions "fire from heaven" and "fire of the Lord" generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).
  • Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called "strange fire" (Lev. 10:1, 2; Num. 3:4).
  • The victims slain for sin offerings were afterwards consumed by fire outside the camp (Lev. 4:12, 21; 6:30; 16:27; Heb. 13:11).
  • For domestic purposes, such as baking, cooking, warmth, etc. (Jer. 36:22; Mark 14:54; John 18:18). But on Sabbath no fire for any domestic purpose was to be kindled (Ex. 35:3; Num. 15:32-36).
  • Punishment of death by fire was inflicted on such as were guilty of certain forms of unchastity and incest (Lev. 20:14; 21:9). The burning of captives in war was not unknown among the Jews (2 Sam. 12:31; Jer. 29:22). The bodies of infamous persons who were executed were also sometimes burned (Josh. 7:25; 2 Kings 23:16).
  • In war, fire was used in the destruction of cities, as Jericho (Josh. 6:24), Ai (8:19), Hazor (11:11), Laish (Judg. 18:27), etc. The war-chariots of the Canaanites were burnt (Josh. 11:6, 9, 13). The Israelites burned the images (2 Kings 10:26; R.V., "pillars") of the house of Baal. These objects of worship seem to have been of the nature of obelisks, and were sometimes evidently made of wood.
  • Torches were sometimes carried by the soldiers in battle (Judg. 7:16).
  • Figuratively, fire is a symbol of Jehovah's presence and the instrument of his power (Ex. 14:19; Num. 11:1, 3; Judg. 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10, 12; 2:11; Isa. 6:4; Ezek. 1:4; Rev. 1:14, etc.).
  • God's word is also likened unto fire (Jer. 23:29). It is referred to as an emblem of severe trials or misfortunes (Zech. 12:6; Luke 12:49; 1 Cor. 3:13, 15; 1 Pet. 1:7), and of eternal punishment (Matt. 5:22; Mark 9:44; Rev. 14:10; 21:8).
  • The influence of the Holy Ghost is likened unto fire (Matt. 3:11). His descent was denoted by the appearance of tongues as of fire (Acts 2:3).

Synonyms of 'fire'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Acronyms for 'FIRE'

From: V.E.R.A.
  • Flexible Intelligent Routing Engine (3Com)
  • Future Internet Research and Experimentation (Europe, CORDIS)

Words containing 'FIRE'