noun

spitfire

Spitfire (noun) means someone with a fiery, quick temper, especially a strong-willed woman or girl. Example: “His grandmother was a spitfire well into her nineties.”

noun

Someone with a fiery, quick temper, especially a strong-willed woman or girl.

"His grandmother was a spitfire well into her nineties."

Capitalized: the iconic British single-seat fighter plane flown during World War II.

"The museum has a restored Spitfire from the Battle of Britain."

How to use spitfire

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a fiery-tempered person, or (capitalized) the famous British WWII fighter aircraft.

Word forms

spitfires plural, Spitfires plural

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His grandmother was a _____ well into her nineties.

Etymology

A compound of spit and fire, originally used for a fierce, hot-tempered person or thing before being adopted as the name of the WWII fighter plane.

Rhymes for spitfire

ire fire wire tire lire dire hire mire sire afire Zaire spire

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Frequently asked questions

What does “spitfire” mean?

The word “spitfire” means someone with a fiery, quick temper, especially a strong-willed woman or girl. In plain terms, either a fiery-tempered person, or (capitalized) the famous British WWII fighter aircraft.

How do you use “spitfire” in a sentence?

Here is “spitfire” used in a sentence: “His grandmother was a spitfire well into her nineties.”

What part of speech is “spitfire”?

“Spitfire” is a noun.

How many meanings does “spitfire” have?

“Spitfire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone with a fiery, quick temper, especially a strong-willed woman or girl.