DEFINITION OF FIRE

• a process in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke; combustion or burning:his house was destroyed by fire
• [count noun] a destructive burning of something:a fire at a hotel
• [count noun] a collection of fuel, especially coal or wood, burnt in a controlled way to provide heat or a means for cooking:we had a bath in a tin tub by the fire
• [count noun] (also electric fire or gas fire) chiefly British a domestic heating appliance that uses electricity or gas as fuel: she was freezing and keeping the fire low to save money
• one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology (considered essential to the nature of the signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius): [as modifier]:a fire sign

• 2a burning sensation: [count noun]:the whisky lit a fire in the back of his throat
• fervent or passionate emotion or enthusiasm:the fire of their religious conviction
• literary a glowing or luminous quality:their soft smiles light the air like a star’s fire

• 3the shooting of projectiles from weapons, especially bullets from guns:a burst of machine-gun fire
• strong criticism or antagonism:he directed his fire against policies promoting American capital flight

verb

[with object]

• 1discharge a gun or other weapon in order to propel (a bullet or projectile):he fired a shot at the retreating prisoners they fired off a few rounds
• discharge (a gun or other weapon):another gang fired a pistol through the window of a hostel [no object]:troops fired on crowds
• [no object] (of a gun) be discharged: the first gun fired
• direct (questions or statements, especially unwelcome ones) towards someone in rapid succession:they fired questions at me for what seemed like ages
• (fire something off) send a message aggressively:he fired off a letter informing her that he regarded the matter with the utmost seriousness