Meaning of fire In English

• 0 (material that is in) the state of burning that produces flames that send out heat and light, and might produce smoke:

  • Animals are usually afraid of fire.

  • The fire was started by children playing with matches.

  • 40 people helped to put out (= stop) the fire.

  • The library was badly damaged in the fire.

  • How many historic buildings are damaged by fire each year?

  • She had to be rescued when her house caught ( US caught on) fire (= started to burn).

  • It's very cold in here - should I light a fire?

  • We built a fire on the beach.

  • We put up our tents and made a small fire.

  • If your home was on fire and you could save only one thing, what would it be?

  • a gas/electric fire

  • If you're cold just put the fire on.

• 1 the shooting of guns or other weapons:

  • The police opened fire on (= started shooting at) the protesters.

  • The command was given to cease fire (= stop shooting).

  • The city came under fire from anti-government forces last night.

• 2 strong emotion:

  • The fire in her speech inspired everyone.

• 3 to cause a weapon to shoot bullets, arrows, or missiles:

  • He fired his gun into the air.

  • Someone started firing at us.

  • Without warning he started firing into the crowd.

  • I just prayed that he would stop firing.

  • The ambassador denied that any missiles had been fired across the border.

  • The journalists were firing questions at me for two whole hours.

  • "I'd like to ask you some questions about your childhood." "Fire away!" (= You can start asking them now.)

• 4 to remove someone from their job, either because they have done something wrong or badly, or as a way of saving the cost of employing them:

  • She was fired after she was caught stealing from her employer.

  • He was fired from his $165,000 job for poor performance.

  • She has just been fired as editor of the newspaper.

  • The company is reducing its workforce by firing 500 employees.

• 5 to cause a strong emotion in someone:

  • I had a brilliant English teacher who fired me with enthusiasm for literature at an early age.

  • Talk of treasure and lost cities had fired their imaginations.

• 6 to heat objects made of clay in a kiln (= a special oven) so that they become hard

• 7 the state of burning, or a burning mass of material:

  • [ U ] The factory had to be closed because the risk of fire was too great.

  • [ C ] There have been a lot of forest fires because of the drought.

  • [ C ] The library was badly damaged in the fire.

  • [ U ] The theater was destroyed by fire.

  • [ C ] Over a hundred volunteers were needed to put out the fire (= stop it).

  • [ C ] Light a fire in the fireplace.

  • By the time the firefighters arrived, the whole house was on fire.

• 8 the act of shooting bullets or other explosives from a weapon:

  • The troops were ordered to cease fire (= stop shooting).

  • The soldiers opened fire (= started shooting).

• 9 strong emotion:

  • The fire in her speech inspired everyone to carry on in spite of recent setbacks.

• 10 to shoot bullets or other explosives from a weapon:

  • [ T ] He fired his gun into the air.

  • [ I ] The soldiers began firing.

  • [ T ] fig. The journalists kept firing questions at the president (= asking him questions quickly one after the other).

  • [ I ] fig. "I’d like to ask you some personal questions." "Fire away (= You can start immediately)!"

• 11 to order someone to give up his or her job:

  • She was fired for stealing from her employer.

• 12 to cause a strong emotion in someone:

  • She’s all fired up (= excited) about going to college.

• 13 to make someone leave their job, especially because they have done something wrong:

  • fire sb for sth He was told that he was being fired for revealing confidential information.

  • be fired from sth She was fired from her job because of poor attendance.

  • The problem for City Council is that we do not have the authority to hire and fire employees.