fire
fire
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /faɪər/
Syllable Breakdown:
fa: /f/, /aɪ/
/f/ - Voiceless labiodental fricative
/aɪ/ - Monophthong with a vowel quality between /æ/ and /ɑ/ and a rising intonation
ər: /ə/, /r/
/ə/ - Reduced vowel (schwa)
/r/ - Alveolar approximant
Word Form Variations
Singular: fire
Plural: fires
Verb: fire (to ignite, to shoot, to dismiss)
Noun: fire (a burning mass, a discharge of weapons, a dismissal)
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
(Noun)
Definitions:
A burning mass: A destructive or uncontrolled blaze that consumes fuel.
Synonyms: blaze, conflagration, inferno
Antonyms: ice, snow, water
A discharge of weapons: A burst of ammunition or projectiles.
Synonyms: shooting, barrage, bombardment
Antonyms: peace, tranquility, ceasefire
A dismissal: The act of removing someone from a job or position.
Synonyms: sacking, termination, layoff
Antonyms: hiring, employment, promotion
(Verb)
Definitions:
To ignite: To cause to burn or catch fire.
Synonyms: kindle, inflame, set ablaze
Antonyms: extinguish, quench, douse
To shoot: To discharge a weapon.
Synonyms: discharge, blast, launch
Antonyms: hold, withhold, refrain
To dismiss: To remove someone from a job or position.
Synonyms: sack, terminate, lay off
Antonyms: hire, employ, promote
(Adjective)
Definitions:
Passionate or intense: Filled with enthusiasm or excitement.
Synonyms: ardent, zealous, fervent
Antonyms: apathetic, indifferent, lukewarm
(Adverb)
Definitions:
With great speed or intensity: Quickly and forcefully.
Synonyms: rapidly, furiously, fiercely
Antonyms: slowly, gradually, gently
Examples of Use
Noun (Burning Mass)
Newspaper: "The wildfire raged out of control, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing thousands to evacuate." (The New York Times, 2023)
Online Publication: "The Amazon rainforest is facing a crisis as deforestation and fires continue to threaten its biodiversity." (National Geographic, 2024)
Noun (Discharge of Weapons)
Book: "The soldiers opened fire on the enemy, causing a deafening roar and a blinding flash of light." (Stephen King, "The Stand")
Movie: "The rebels launched a surprise attack, firing their weapons from the cover of darkness." (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
Noun (Dismissal)
Newspaper: "The company announced a mass layoff, firing thousands of employees due to economic downturn." (The Wall Street Journal, 2023)
TV Show: "The coach decided to fire the star player after a series of poor performances." (SportsCenter, ESPN)
Verb (To Ignite)
Book: "The match flared to life, igniting the dry tinder and sending a column of smoke into the air." (J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Hobbit")
Online Article: "Scientists are developing new technologies to prevent wildfires and extinguish them more efficiently." (Scientific American, 2024)
Verb (To Shoot)
Movie: "The detective drew his gun and fired a warning shot at the suspect." (Die Hard)
Video Game: "The player aimed carefully and fired the sniper rifle, taking out the enemy from a distance." (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)
Verb (To Dismiss)
Newspaper: "The university decided to fire the professor after allegations of plagiarism." (The Guardian, 2023)
TV Show: "The CEO fired the entire marketing team for failing to meet their sales targets." (Mad Men)
Adjective
Book: "His eyes burned with a fiery passion as he delivered his speech." (Charles Dickens, "Great Expectations")
Song: "We're burning up like a wildfire, a fiery love that's out of control." (Bon Jovi, "You Give Love a Bad Name")
Adverb
Movie: "The car raced down the highway, fire blazing from its engine." (The Fast and the Furious)
Poem: "The flames danced wildly, devouring everything in their path with fiery fury." (William Blake, "The Tyger")
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Fire
"The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire."
— Ferdinand Foch"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire."
— Arnold H. Glasow"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
— William Butler Yeats"You have to go through the fire in order to find out who you really are."
— Tina Turner"Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden."
— Cormac McCarthy"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."
— Plutarch"As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words."
— William Shakespeare"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark."
— Ayn Rand"Absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it inflames the great."
— Roger de Bussy-Rabutin"One can enjoy a wood fire worthily only when he warms his thoughts by it as well as his hands."
— Odell Shepherd
Etymology
The word "fire" has a long and interesting history. It comes from an ancient Indo-European root word that meant "to burn." This root word has given rise to similar words in many languages, including Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit.
The first known use of "fire" in English was in the 13th century. At that time, it meant "a burning mass" or "a destructive blaze." Over time, the word has expanded to include other meanings, such as "a discharge of weapons" and "a dismissal."
So, the word "fire" has its roots in an ancient language and has evolved over centuries to take on various meanings related to burning, shooting, and dismissal.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Fire
Common Phrases:
Catch fire: To become popular or successful quickly.
Under fire: Being criticized or attacked.
Play with fire: To take a risky action.
Add fuel to the fire: To make a situation worse.
A fire in the belly: A strong desire or passion.
Lesser-Known Phrases:
To go up in flames: To be destroyed or ruined.
To fan the flames: To make a situation worse by encouraging it.
To put out a fire: To stop a problem or conflict.
A firecracker: A lively, energetic person.
A firebrand: A passionate and often controversial person.
Idioms with Synonyms for Similar Effect:
A burning desire: A strong wish or longing.
A raging inferno: A violent and uncontrolled situation.
A smoldering resentment: A hidden anger or dislike.
To fan the flames of war: To make a conflict worse.
To quench the thirst: To satisfy a strong desire or need.
Posts Related to Fire
Source Information
Definition of fire from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
