Fire (Noun)
Meaning 1
Intense adverse criticism; "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The senator withstood the fire of his critics and still managed to pass the bill.
- The government has come under fire for its handling of the crisis.
- The candidate was under fire from his opponents for his controversial views.
- The company came under fire for its environmental policies.
- The politician directed her fire at the opposition, criticizing their economic plan.
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Meaning 2
Feelings of great warmth and intensity; "he spoke with great ardor".
Classification
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions.
Examples
- Her speech was infused with fire as she talked about her passion for social justice.
- The fire in his eyes was unmistakable as he accepted the award for his groundbreaking work.
- The artist's latest sculpture exuded fire, capturing the viewer's attention with its vibrant colors and bold shapes.
- The new employee's fire for innovation was contagious, inspiring her colleagues to think outside the box.
- The football team played with fire, their determination and energy driving them to victory.
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Meaning 3
A severe trial; "he went through fire and damnation".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The company went through a fire of public criticism after the scandal was exposed.
- The young band faced a fire of rejections before they were finally signed to a record label.
- She endured a fire of discrimination throughout her career, but never let it break her spirit.
- The new entrepreneur navigated a fire of financial struggles in the first year of his business.
- The team went through a fire of intense competition to win the championship title.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles).
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Usages
Examples
- Ancient Greeks believed that earth, air, water, and fire were the fundamental building blocks of the universe.
- The philosopher Empedocles taught that all matter was composed of varying proportions of fire and the other three elements.
- In this early cosmology, fire was considered a divine and eternal substance that could not be created or destroyed.
- The concept of fire as an element was eventually replaced by the concept of chemical reactions involving oxygen and fuel.
- Fire was often symbolized as a powerful force of transformation and purification in ancient mythologies.
Meaning 5
A fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning; "they sat by the fire and talked".
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The family gathered around the fire in the living room to sing Christmas carols.
- She added another log to the fire to make sure it would last throughout the night.
- The crackling of the fire created a cozy atmosphere in the small cottage.
- As they sat by the fire, they shared stories of their adventures on the road.
- The warmth from the fire was comforting on a cold winter evening.
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Meaning 6
Fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking; "put the kettle on the fire"; "barbecue over an open fire".
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The campers huddled around the fire to warm their hands and cook their dinner.
- She carefully placed the pot of water over the fire to boil for tea.
- The smell of smoke from the fire filled the air as they roasted marshmallows for s'mores.
- The outdoor kitchen featured a large stone fire pit where meals were prepared for the entire family.
- The aroma of sizzling burgers wafted from the fire pit where they were grilling dinner for the party.
Meaning 7
The event of something burning (often destructive); "they lost everything in the fire".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The flames from the fire engulfed the entire building in a matter of minutes.
- Residents were evacuated from the surrounding area as a precautionary measure during the fire.
- She stood in the doorway, watching in horror as the fire consumed her childhood home.
- The cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical malfunction in the wiring.
- The family was left to pick up the pieces after the fire destroyed their business.
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Meaning 8
The act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy; "hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes"; "they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The platoon took cover as a hail of enemy fire rained down on their position.
- Hold your fire until the tanks are in range, then unleash everything you've got.
- The battle-scarred veterans knew that withering fire was just a precursor to the assault.
- The soldiers retreated in disarray under intense machine gun fire.
- The commander ordered his men to concentrate their fire on the enemy's command center.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
- Massed Fire
- Battery
- Salvo
- Barrage Fire
- Fratricide
- Cannon Fire
- Burst
- Covering Fire
- Bombardment
- Shelling
- Volley
Related Words
Meaning 9
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke; "fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The firefighters battled the blaze for hours to contain the fire that ravaged the city block.
- The discovery of fire revolutionized the way our ancestors cooked their food and kept warm during harsh winters.
- Smoke billowed from the chimney as the log fire crackled and popped in the fireplace.
- She leaned in to light her cigarette from the flame of the fire burning in the ashtray.
- A spark ignited the fire that spread quickly through the dry brush and engulfed the entire hillside.