A rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light and is accompanied by flame, especially the exothermic oxidation of a combustible substance.
Burning fuel or other material: a cooking fire; a forest fire.
Burning intensity of feeling; ardor. See Synonyms at passion.
Enthusiasm.
The discharge of firearms or artillery: heard the fire of cannon.
The launching of a missile, rocket, or similar ballistic body.
Discharged bullets or other projectiles: subjected enemy positions to heavy mortar fire; struck by rifle fire.
Burning intensity of feeling; ardor. See Synonyms at passion.
Enthusiasm.
The discharge of firearms or artillery: heard the fire of cannon.
The launching of a missile, rocket, or similar ballistic body.
Discharged bullets or other projectiles: subjected enemy positions to heavy mortar fire; struck by rifle fire.
Luminosity or brilliance, as of a cut and polished gemstone.
Liveliness and vivacity of imagination; brilliance.
A severe test; a trial or torment.
A fever or bodily inflammation.
The discharge of firearms or artillery: heard the fire of cannon.
The launching of a missile, rocket, or similar ballistic body.
Discharged bullets or other projectiles: subjected enemy positions to heavy mortar fire; struck by rifle fire.
Intense, repeated attack or criticism: answered the fire from her political critics.
v.
fired, fir·ing, fires
v.
tr.
To cause to burn; ignite.
To light (something) up as if by fire: The morning sun fired the tops of the trees.
To add fuel to (something burning).
To maintain or fuel a fire in.
To start (a fuel-burning engine). Often used with up.
To bake in a kiln: fire pottery.
To dry by heating.
To discharge (a firearm, for example).
To detonate (an explosive).
To propel (a projectile); launch (a missile).
Informal To throw with force and speed; hurl: fire a ball at a batter.
To utter or direct with insistence: fired questions at the senator.
To add fuel to (something burning).
To maintain or fuel a fire in.
To start (a fuel-burning engine). Often used with up.
To bake in a kiln: fire pottery.
To dry by heating.
To discharge (a firearm, for example).
To detonate (an explosive).
To propel (a projectile); launch (a missile).
Informal To throw with force and speed; hurl: fire a ball at a batter.
To utter or direct with insistence: fired questions at the senator.
To bake in a kiln: fire pottery.
To dry by heating.
To discharge (a firearm, for example).
To detonate (an explosive).
To propel (a projectile); launch (a missile).
Informal To throw with force and speed; hurl: fire a ball at a batter.
To utter or direct with insistence: fired questions at the senator.
To arouse the emotions of; make enthusiastic or ardent. Often used with up:warriors who were fired by patriotism.
To discharge (a firearm, for example).
To detonate (an explosive).
To propel (a projectile); launch (a missile).
Informal To throw with force and speed; hurl: fire a ball at a batter.
To utter or direct with insistence: fired questions at the senator.
To propel (a projectile); launch (a missile).
Informal To throw with force and speed; hurl: fire a ball at a batter.
To utter or direct with insistence: fired questions at the senator.
Games To score (a number) in a game or contest.
To discharge from a position; dismiss. See Synonyms at dismiss.
v.
intr.
To become ignited; flame up.
To become excited or ardent.
To become angry or annoyed.
To shoot a weapon: aimed and fired at the target.
To detonate an explosive.
To ignite fuel, as in an engine.
To tend a fire.
To shoot a weapon: aimed and fired at the target.
To detonate an explosive.
To ignite fuel, as in an engine.
Informal To project or hurl a missile: The pitcher wound up and fired.
Physiology To generate an electrical impulse. Used of a neuron.
To become yellowed or brown before reaching maturity, as grain.
To utter or ask rapidly.
To write and send (a letter, for example) in haste.
Phrasal Verb(s): fire away Informal To start to talk or ask questions. fire off
To utter or ask rapidly.
To write and send (a letter, for example) in haste.
Idiom(s):
between two firesBeing attacked from two sources or sides simultaneously.
Idiom(s):
on fire
Ignited; ablaze.
Filled with enthusiasm or excitement.
Idiom(s):
start/light/build a fire under Slang To urge or goad to action.
Idiom(s):
under fire
Exposed or subjected to enemy attack.
Exposed or subjected to critical attack or censure: an official who was under fire for mismanagement.
[Middle English fir, from Old English fȳr; see paəw in Indo-European roots.] fire'a·ble adj., fir'er n.
Word History: Primitive Indo-European had pairs of words for some very common things, such as water or fire. Typically, one word in the pair was active, animate, and personified; the other, impersonal and neuter in grammatical gender. In the case of the pair of words for "fire," English has descendants of both, one inherited directly from Germanic, the other borrowed from Latin. Our word fire goes back to the neuter member of the pair. In Old English "fire" was fȳr, from Germanic *fūr. The Indo-European form behind *fūr is *pūr, whence also the Greek neuter noun pūr, the source of the prefix pyro-. The other Indo-European word for fire appears in ignite, which is derived from the Latin word for fire, ignis, from Indo-European *egnis. The Russian word for fire, ogon' (stem form ogn-), and the Sanskrit agni-, "fire" (deified as Agni, the god of fire), also come from *egnis, the active, animate, and personified word for fire.
Electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength in the range from about 4,000 (violet) to about 7,700 (red) angstroms and may be perceived by the normal unaided human eye.
Electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength.
A source of light, especially a lamp, a lantern, or an electric lighting fixture: Turn out the lights when you leave.
The illumination derived from a source of light: by the light of the moon.
The particular quantity or quality of such illumination: moved the lamp closer to get better light.
The pathway or route of such illumination to a person: You're standing in his light.
Daylight.
Dawn; daybreak.
Something that provides information or clarification: threw some light on the question.
A state of awareness or understanding, especially as derived from a particular source: in the light of experience.
The sensation of perceiving light; brightness: a sudden light that made me blink.
A source of light, especially a lamp, a lantern, or an electric lighting fixture: Turn out the lights when you leave.
The illumination derived from a source of light: by the light of the moon.
The particular quantity or quality of such illumination: moved the lamp closer to get better light.
The pathway or route of such illumination to a person: You're standing in his light.
Daylight.
Dawn; daybreak.
Something that provides information or clarification: threw some light on the question.
A state of awareness or understanding, especially as derived from a particular source: in the light of experience.
A mechanical device that uses illumination as a signal or warning, especially a beacon or traffic signal.
Daylight.
Dawn; daybreak.
Something that provides information or clarification: threw some light on the question.
A state of awareness or understanding, especially as derived from a particular source: in the light of experience.
Something, such as a window, that admits illumination.
Architecture One of two or more openings in a window divided by a mullion or mullions.
A source of fire, such as a match or cigarette lighter.
Spiritual awareness; illumination.
Something that provides information or clarification: threw some light on the question.
A state of awareness or understanding, especially as derived from a particular source: in the light of experience.
Public attention; general knowledge: brought the scandal to light.
A way of looking at or considering a matter; an aspect: saw the situation in a different light.
Archaic Eyesight.
lights One's individual opinions, choices, or standards: acted according to their own lights.
A person who inspires or is adored by another: My daughter is the light of my life.
A prominent or distinguished person; a luminary: one of the leading lights of the theater.
An expression of the eyes: a strange light in her eyes.
Light In Quaker doctrine, the guiding spirit or divine presence in each person.
The representation of light in art.
v.
light·ed or lit (lĭt), light·ing, lights
v.
tr.
To set on fire; ignite or kindle.
To cause to give out light; make luminous: lit a lamp.
To provide, cover, or fill with light; illuminate: fireworks lighting the sky.
To signal, direct, or guide with or as if with illumination.
To enliven or animate: A smile lit her face.
v.
intr.
To start to burn; be ignited or kindled: Green wood does not light easily.
To emit light; be lighted: Wait until the indicator lights up.
adj.
light·er, light·est
Having a greater rather than lesser degree of lightness.
Of or being an additive primary color.
Characterized by or filled with light; bright: a room that is light when the shutters are open.
Not dark in color; fair: light hair and skin.
Served with milk or cream. Used of coffee.
Phrasal Verb(s): light up
To become or cause to become animated or cheerful.
To start smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.
Idiom(s):
in (the) light ofIn consideration of; in relationship to.
Idiom(s):
light a fire underTo urge or move to action.
Idiom(s):
light at the end of the tunnelThe prospect of success, relief, or escape after strenuous effort.
[Middle English, from Old English lēoht, līht; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Lighted and lit are equally acceptable as past tense and past participle of light. Both forms are also well established as adjectives: a lighted (or lit) candle.
Also, build a fire under. Urge or goad to action, as in If we don't light a fire under that committee, they'll never do any work. This hyperbolic colloquialism uses light in the sense of "ignite," a usage dating from the mid-1100s.
(fīr) 
in Indo-European roots.]