fire
FEYE-uh
Fire (noun) means the chemical reaction of burning, producing heat, light, and flame. Example: “They gathered around the fire to keep warm.”
noun
1
The chemical reaction of burning, producing heat, light, and flame.
"They gathered around the fire to keep warm."
"A fire broke out in the warehouse overnight."
"The campfire was dying, so we added more wood to keep the fire going."
2
Bullets or projectiles shot from a weapon, or the act of shooting.
"The soldiers took cover under enemy fire."
"Residents heard heavy fire coming from the hills all night."
"Rifle fire echoed from the practice range on the far side of the valley."
verb
1
To shoot a weapon.
"The officer fired a warning shot into the air."
"The archer fired an arrow straight at the distant target."
"At the festival, they fired a cannon to mark the opening."
2
To dismiss someone from their job.
"The manager fired two employees for repeated lateness."
"The company fired him after he lied about his qualifications."
"She was afraid the boss would fire her for missing the deadline."
3
To set something alight, or to heat it strongly, as with ceramics.
"The pottery is fired in a kiln at high temperature."
"Once the clay bowls are dry, we fire them overnight in the kiln."
"She fired the glazed mugs twice to make them hard and shiny."
How to use fire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBurning combustion; also, to shoot a weapon or to dismiss someone from a job.
Common mistake
In business contexts, "fire" (dismiss) is more blunt/informal than "terminate" or "let go" — choose based on tone needed.
Common pairings
catch fire
fire someone
open fire
fire away
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Word forms
- Plural
- fires
- Third person singular
- fires
- Past tense
- fired
- Archaic forms
- firest, firedst, fireth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They gathered around the _____ to keep warm.
Etymology
From Old English fyr, going back to a very old Germanic root shared with German Feuer and Dutch vuur, ultimately tracing to an ancient Indo-European word for fire.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fire
See all rhymes for fire →Frequently asked questions
What does “fire” mean?
The word “fire” means the chemical reaction of burning, producing heat, light, and flame. In plain terms, burning combustion; also, to shoot a weapon or to dismiss someone from a job.
How do you pronounce “fire”?
“Fire” is pronounced FEYE-uh (/ˈfaɪ.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fire” in a sentence?
Here is “fire” used in a sentence: “They gathered around the fire to keep warm.”
What is another word for “fire”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fire” include blaze, flame, conflagration and inferno.
What part of speech is “fire”?
Depending on how it is used, “fire” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fire” come from?
The word “fire” comes from Old English. From Old English fyr, going back to a very old Germanic root shared with German Feuer and Dutch vuur, ultimately tracing to an ancient Indo-European word for fire.
Is “fire” a common word?
“Fire” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “fire” have?
“Fire” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the chemical reaction of burning, producing heat, light, and flame.
What is the difference between fire and flame?
A flame is the visible, glowing part of a fire — the region of hot, burning gas that gives off light. Fire is the whole process of combustion, including the heat, the fuel being consumed, and the flame itself. In short, every flame comes from fire, but fire is more than just its flame.
What three things does a fire need to burn?
Fire needs heat, fuel, and oxygen — often called the fire triangle. Remove any one and the fire goes out. That is exactly how firefighting works: water cools away the heat, smothering removes oxygen, and clearing flammable material takes away the fuel. All three must be present for burning to continue.
Is fire a solid, liquid, or gas?
Fire is none of these — it is not a substance but a chemical reaction. What you see is glowing gas and tiny particles releasing heat and light as fuel combines with oxygen. Because it is a process rather than matter, fire has no fixed shape and vanishes the moment burning stops.
Is fire a living thing?
No. Fire can seem alive because it grows, moves, and consumes fuel, but it does not meet the definition of life. It has no cells, cannot reproduce biologically, and passes on no genetic material. It is simply a fast chemical reaction that spreads wherever heat, fuel, and oxygen allow it to.
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