fire

fire
I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fȳr; akin to Old High German fiur fire, Greek pyr Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) the phenomenon of combustion manifested in light, flame, and heat (2) one of the four elements of the alchemists b. (1) burning passion ; ardor (2) liveliness of imagination ; inspiration 2. a. fuel in a state of combustion (as on a hearth) b. British a small gas or electric space heater 3. a. a destructive burning (as of a building) b. (1) death or torture by fire (2) severe trial or ordeal 4. brilliancy, luminosity <
the fire of a gem
>
5. a. the firing of weapons (as firearms, artillery, or missiles) b. intense verbal attack or criticism c. a rapidly delivered series (as of remarks) • fireless adjective II. verb (fired; firing) Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. a. to set on fire ; kindle; also ignite <
fire a rocket engine
>
b. (1) to give life or spirit to ; inspire <
the description fired his imagination
>
(2) to fill with passion or enthusiasm — often used with up c. to light up as if by fire d. to cause to start operating — usually used with up <
fired up the engine
>
2. a. to drive out or away by or as if by fire b. to dismiss from a position 3. a. (1) to cause to explode ; detonate (2) to propel from or as if from a gun ; discharge, launch <
fire a rocket
>
(3) shoot 1b <
fire a gun
>
(4) to score (a number) in a game or contest b. to throw with speed or force <
fired the ball to first base
>
<
fire a left jab
>
c. to utter with force and rapidity 4. to apply fire or fuel to: as a. to process by applying heat <
fire pottery
>
b. to feed or serve the fire of <
fire a boiler
>
intransitive verb 1. a. to take fire ; kindle, ignite b. to begin operation ; start <
the engine fired
>
c. to operate especially as the result of the application of an electrical impulse <
the spark plug fires
>
2. a. to become irritated or angry — often used with up b. to become filled with excitement or enthusiasm 3. a. to discharge a firearm <
fire at close range
>
b. to emit or let fly an object 4. to tend a fire 5. to transmit a nerve impulse <
the rate at which a neuron fires
>
fireable adjectivefirer noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • FIRE — (Heb. אֵשׁ). In the Bible Once humans discovered that fire could be maintained and exploited for their needs, it became one of their most important assets. Fire was used for light, warmth, cooking, roasting, baking, in waging war, and in various… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • fire — [fīr] n. [ME fyr < OE, akin to Ger feuer < IE base * pewōr > Gr pyra, PYRE, Czech pýř, glowing embers] 1. the active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion 2. fuel burning in a furnace, fireplace, etc. 3 …   English World dictionary

  • fire — ► NOUN 1) the state of burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and give out bright light, heat, and smoke. 2) an instance of destructive burning. 3) wood or coal burnt in a hearth or stove for heating or cooking.… …   English terms dictionary

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fire!! — was an African American literary magazine published in 1926 during the Harlem Renaissance. The publication was started by Wallace Thurman, Zora Neale Hurston, Aaron Douglas, John P. Davis, Richard Bruce Nugent, Gwendolyn Bennett, Countee Cullen,… …   Wikipedia

  • Fire — bezeichnet: ein ehemaliges vierteljährliches Literaturmagazin, siehe Fire!! ein Filmdrama der kanadischen Regisseurin Deepa Mehta, siehe Fire – Wenn Liebe Feuer fängt ein LCD Spiel der Reihe Nintendo Game Watch, siehe auch Bouncing Babies… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • fire — FÍRE, firi, s.f. 1. Mediul natural (împreună cu fiinţele care trăiesc în el). ♢ loc. adv. Peste fire = extraordinar; în cel mai înalt grad. 2. Structură psihică şi morală a unei fiinţe; caracter, temperament. 3. Minte, cuget; cumpăt. ♢ loc. adj.… …   Dicționar Român

  • fire — [n1] burning blaze, bonfire, campfire, charring, coals, combustion, conflagration, devouring, element, embers, flame and smoke, flames, flare, glow, hearth, heat, holocaust, hot spot*, incandescence, inferno, luminosity, oxidation, phlogiston,… …   New thesaurus

  • Fire It Up — can refer to: * Fire It Up (album) , a 1979 album by funk singer Rick James * Fire It Up (Rick James song) , a single also released by Rick James from the same album. * Fire It Up (Black Label Society song) , a 2005 single released from hard rock …   Wikipedia

  • fire — n Fire, conflagration, holocaust are comparable when meaning a blaze that reduces or threatens to reduce one or more buildings to ashes. Fire is the general term referable to such an event, whether it involves one or many buildings and whether it …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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