bonfire
Bonfire (noun) means a large outdoor fire, often lit for celebration or to burn unwanted material. Example: “We gathered around the bonfire and told stories all night.”
How to use bonfire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big fire built outside, whether for a party, a celebration, or clearing away rubbish.
Word forms
bonfired past tense, bonfires plural, bonfires singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We gathered around the _____ and told stories all night.
Etymology
From Middle English bonnefyre, literally "bone fire" — a fire in which bones were burned, later generalized to any large outdoor fire.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bonfire
See all rhymes for bonfire →Frequently asked questions
What does “bonfire” mean?
The word “bonfire” means a large outdoor fire, often lit for celebration or to burn unwanted material. In plain terms, a big fire built outside, whether for a party, a celebration, or clearing away rubbish.
How do you pronounce “bonfire”?
“Bonfire” is pronounced BON-feye-uh (/ˈbɑnˌfaɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bonfire” in a sentence?
Here is “bonfire” used in a sentence: “We gathered around the bonfire and told stories all night.”
What part of speech is “bonfire”?
“Bonfire” is a noun.
Where does the word “bonfire” come from?
The word “bonfire” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bonnefyre, literally "bone fire" — a fire in which bones were burned, later generalized to any large outdoor fire.
Is “bonfire” a common word?
“Bonfire” is an uncommon word in modern English.