fire

noun17

1. •
   the heat and bright light that come from something burning

   • But to me it was not despicable; I said, "Oh, you fire, I love you, you dainty pink creature, for you are beautiful—and that is enough!" and was going to gather it to my breast. — 1906
2. •
   An instance of this chemical reaction, especially when intentionally created and maintained in a specific location to a useful end (such as a campfire or a hearth fire).

   • We sat about the fire singing songs and telling tales.
3. •
   The occurrence, often accidental, of fire in a certain place, causing damage and danger.

   • There was a fire at the school last night and the whole place burned down.
   • During hot and dry summers many fires in forests are caused by regardlessly discarded cigarette butts.
4. •
   The aforementioned chemical reaction of burning, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.
5. •
   The bullets or other projectiles fired from a gun or other ranged weapon.

   • The fire from the enemy guns kept us from attacking.
6. •
   A planned bombardment by artillery or similar weapons, or the capability to deliver such.

   • We dominated the battlespace with our fires.
7. •
   (figurative) A barrage, volley

   • In the district of Erfurt a very heavy sheaf [...] is called the Great Mother, and is carried on the last waggon to the barn, where all hands lift it down amid a fire of jokes. — 1911
8. •
   Strength of passion, whether love or hate.

   • He had fire in his temper. — 1687
9. •
   Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm.

   • And bless their critic with a poet's fire. — 1711
10. •
    (UK) A heater or stove used in place of a real fire (such as an electric fire).
11. •
    The elements necessary to start a fire.

    • The fire was laid and needed to be lit.
12. •
    Splendour; brilliancy; lustre; hence, a star.

    • Stars, hide your fires. — 1606
13. •
    Red coloration in a piece of opal.
14. •
    The capacity of a gemstone, especially a faceted, cut gemstone, that is transparent to visible light, to disperse white light into its multispectral component parts, resulting in a flash of different colors, the richness and dispersion of which increases the gemstone's value.
15. •
    An instance of firing one or more rocket engines.
16. •
    (slang) A firearm.

    • I used to work at Five Below but now I keep that fire below — 2023
17. •
    A severe trial; anything inflaming or provoking.

verb24

1. •
   To set (something, often a building) on fire.

   • That lamp was the mummy of a woman tied to a stout stake let into the rock, and he had fired her hair. — 1886
2. •
   To terminate the employment contract of (an employee), especially for cause (such as misconduct, incompetence, or poor performance).

   • The first, obvious choice was hysterical and fantastic Blanche – had there not been her timidity, her fear of being ‘fired’[…]. — 1969
3. •
   To terminate a contract with a client; to drop a client.

   • Don't be hesitant to fire a client - cull out the deadwood. If a client doesn't meet the above criteria, you are better off without him. You don't do your best work for a client you'd rather not have. — 1979
4. •
   To shoot (a gun, rocket/missile, or analogous device).

   • We will fire our guns at the enemy.
   • The jet fired a salvo of rockets at the truck convoy.
5. •
   To shoot a gun, cannon, or similar weapon.

   • Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.
6. •
   To set off an explosive in a mine.

   • `Now are you both ready?' I said, as people do when they are going to fire a mine. — 1886
7. •
   To shoot; to attempt to score a goal.

   • Andrey Arshavin equalised with a superb volley into the corner before Nicklas Bendtner coolly fired Arsenal in front. — 2010
8. •
   To forcibly direct (something).

   • He answered the questions the reporters fired at him.
9. •
   (old-fashioned) To catch fire; to be kindled.
10. •
    To operate a rocket engine to produce thrust.

    • The RCS thrusters fired several times to stabilize the tumbling spacecraft.
11. •
    (slang) To start (an engine).
12. •
    To cause an action potential in a cell.

    • When a neuron fires, it transmits information.
13. •
    To inflame; to irritate, as the passions.
14. •
    To animate; to give life or spirit to.
15. •
    (old-fashioned) To be irritated or inflamed with passion.

    • Love had fired my mind. — 1700
16. •
    To heat as with fire, but without setting on fire, as ceramic, metal objects, etc.

    • If you fire the pottery at too high a temperature, it may crack.
    • They fire the wood to make it easier to put a point on the end.
17. •
    To initiate an event (by means of an event handler).

    • The event handler should only fire after all web page content has finished loading.
    • The queue fires a job whenever the thread pool is ready to handle it.
18. •
    To feed or serve the fire of.

    • Driver G. A. Rowett, of the North Eastern Region's Neville Hill shed, now joined the locomotive as pilotman, and actually took over the regulator, Fireman Wheddon continuing to fire. — 1958
19. •
    (old-fashioned) To work as a fireman, one who keeps the fire under a steam boiler on a steam-powered ship or train.

    • I fired on that train until August.
20. •
    To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.

    • [The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines. — 1593
21. •
    Of a horse: to race ahead with a burst of energy.

    • I'd say he struggled to get around the course. He never fired. In other years, when Buzzy Hannum rode him, he ran well enough to win, but not this time. — 1988
22. •
    (slang) To begin cooking an order.
23. •
    To drive away by setting a fire.

    • Till my bad angel fire my good one out. — 1609
24. •
    To cauterize (a horse, or a part of its body).

adjective[after a verb]1

1. •
   (slang) Amazing; excellent.

   • This is fire, keep up the amazing work!

exclamation1

1. •
   Command to shoot with firearms.

noun2

1. •
   Acronym of financial independence and retire early.
2. •
   Acronym of finance, insurance and real estate, a class of businesses.