Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light and is accompanied by flame, especially the exothermic oxidation of a combustible substance.
- noun A specific instance of this change that destroys something.
- noun A burning fuel.
- noun Burning intensity of feeling; ardor or enthusiasm: synonym: passion.
- noun Luminosity or brilliance, as of a cut and polished gemstone.
- noun Liveliness and vivacity of imagination; brilliance.
- noun A severe test; a trial or torment.
- noun A fever or bodily inflammation.
- noun The discharge of firearms or artillery.
- noun The launching of a missile, rocket, or similar ballistic body.
- noun Discharged bullets or other projectiles.
- noun Intense, repeated attack or criticism.
- intransitive verb To cause to burn; ignite or set fire to.
- intransitive verb To illuminate or cause to resemble fire, as in color.
- intransitive verb To start (a fuel-burning engine or a vehicle with such an engine). Often used with up.
- intransitive verb To start or tend a fire in.
- intransitive verb To arouse the emotions of; make enthusiastic or ardent. Often used with up:
- intransitive verb To inspire or arouse (an emotion or the imagination).
- intransitive verb To bake or dry by heating, as in a kiln.
- intransitive verb To discharge (a firearm, for example).
- intransitive verb To detonate (an explosive).
- intransitive verb To propel (a projectile) from a weapon or launch (a missile).
- intransitive verb Informal To throw or propel with force and speed.
- intransitive verb To utter or direct with insistence.
- intransitive verb Games To score (a number) in a game or contest.
- intransitive verb To end the employment or service of; dismiss. synonym: dismiss.
- intransitive verb To become ignited; flame up.
- intransitive verb To shoot a weapon.
- intransitive verb To detonate an explosive.
- intransitive verb To ignite fuel; start.
- intransitive verb To send out a projectile; discharge.
- intransitive verb To propel or hurl a projectile.
- intransitive verb Physiology To generate an electrical impulse. Used of a neuron.
- intransitive verb To become yellowed or brown before reaching maturity, as grain.
- idiom (between two fires) Being attacked from two sources or sides simultaneously.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The fire itself is referred to as the fire incident.'
Jesusita fire in Santa Barbara | The Blog of Michael R. Eades, M.D. 2009
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A stranger might suppose the buildings on fire, but not a blaze is within, the object here, as in bacon-curing, being _smoke_, not _fire_.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce E. R. Billings
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For example, utter the words: "A house is my fire," and observe the comparative duration of time in the pronunciation of each word, the comparative stress, and the relative pitch (e.g. of _a_ and _fire_).
The Principles of English Versification Paull Franklin Baum
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On her return, seeing her mistress on fire, she immediately gave an alarm; and some people coming to her assistance, one of them endeavored to extinguish the flames with his hands, _but they adhered to them as if they had been dipped in brandy or oil on fire_.
Select Temperance Tracts American Tract Society
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Sioux cheti to build a fire, chewati I build a fire; shuta to miss, shuunta-pi we miss.
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But, a final objection is raised, as on this view of the matter the elements -- earth, water and fire -- which are eaten and drunk, are already tripartite, each of them containing portions of all, and thus are of a threefold nature, how can they be designated each of them by a simple term -- _earth_, _water_, _fire_?
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja — Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48 George Thibaut 1881
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By morning the repair was accomplished, the leak was stopped, and in thirty hours the fire was again in the boiler; _and all the time the south wind blew so mildly that there was not the least need of a fire_.
The Wonders of Prayer A Record of Well Authenticated and Wonderful Answers to Prayer 1870
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The fire admits of easy regulation, the ashes may be removed and the fuel may be supplied without _checking the fire_.
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It remains, then, that you be committed to the fire, which shall consume the light materials; for our God, to those who can comprehend heavenly things, is called a _consuming fire_.
Purgatory Mrs. James Sadlier 1861
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If we find _agni_, meaning fire, in Sanskrit, and _ignis_, meaning fire, in Latin, we may safely conclude that _fire_ was known to the undivided Aryans, even if no trace of the same name of fire occurred anywhere else.
India: What can it teach us? A Course of Lectures Delivered before the University Of Cambridge Alexander Wilder 1861
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Kiersten Saunders stumbled upon the FIRE movement — an acronym for “financial independence, retire early” — the way most people do: by reading about it online.
For These Women, a FIRE That Burns Too Male and Too White By 2019
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While some millennials on this path identify with the movement known as FIRE — financial independence, retire early — others, like Brit Minichiello, have broader goals.
Millennials Want to Retire at 50. How to Afford It Is Another Matter. By 2022
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A Guinness World Record holder for the longest duration of fire torch teething – a stunt where you hold a fire torch upright with your teeth – and winner of best comedy magic show at the 2017 Melbourne Magic Festival, Hendrix is among a growing number of female illusionists changing the world of magic.
It's No Trick: Women Are Crashing the Male-Dominated World of Magic 2023
skipvia commented on the word fire
Seethes with heat and power.
December 19, 2007
kewpid commented on the word fire
It burns!
December 19, 2007
hernesheir commented on the word fire
Would some one put me out? I'm on fire.
June 27, 2011
marky commented on the word fire
15 hours ago.. guess hernesheir's a crispy critter by now. :(
June 27, 2011