fire

Pronunciation

• (UK) (AU) enPR: fīə(r), IPA ^(key): /faɪə(r)/, SAMPA: /faI@(r)/
• (US) enPR: fīr, IPA ^(key): /faɪɚ/, SAMPA: /faI@`/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular fire

Plural fires

Fire

A man blowing fire

1. (uncountable) A chemical reaction that makes heat and flames or smoldering.
2. (countable) Something that has made or can make this chemical reaction, such as a campfire.

   We sat around the fire singing songs and telling stories.

3. (countable) The, often accidental, occurrence of fire in a certain place which leads to its full or partial destruction.

   There was a fire at the church last night and the whole place burned down.

4. (uncountable); (alchemy) One of the four basic elements.
5. (India) (Japan) One of the five basic elements.

Related words

• fire station

Verb

Plain form fire

Third-person singular fires

Past tense fired

Past participle fired

Present participle firing

1. (transitive) If an employee is fired, their employment is ended because of something they did.

   She should fire the guy who stole that stuff.

   He got fired from his job.

2. (transitive & intransitive) If you fire a gun, cannon or a similar weapon, you shoot it.

   We will fire our guns at the enemy.

   Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.