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REFERENCE

fire

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈfaɪɝ// UK //fˈaɪə// fire
  1. 1 heat and flames (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the heat, light, and flames produced when something burns.

    the state of combustion or the visible effect of a chemical reaction involving fuel and oxygen.

    Example

    We sat around the camp fire to keep warm during the cold night.

    Example

    The investigators determined that the fire had originated in the basement due to faulty electrical wiring near the furnace.
  2. 2 shooting weapons (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of shooting bullets or shells from guns.

    the discharge of firearms or artillery; often used in military contexts.

    Example

    The soldiers were ordered to hold their fire until the enemy was closer.

    Example

    The heavy artillery fire continued throughout the night, making it impossible for the rescue teams to reach the stranded civilians.
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  1. 3 strong emotion (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a strong feeling of passion, anger, or energy.

    intense enthusiasm, passion, or spirit; often used to describe intellectual or emotional drive.

    Example

    You could see the fire in her eyes as she talked about her new project.

    Example

    The young pianist played with such fire and technical precision that the audience remained silent for several seconds after the final note.
  2. 4 to dismiss from a job (v.)
    B1 Intermediate business

    to tell someone they can no longer work at their job, usually because of a problem.

    to terminate an employment contract, typically due to poor performance or misconduct.

    Example

    The company had to fire him after he was late for work three times in a week.

    Example

    The board of directors voted to fire the CEO following the revelation of the accounting scandal.
  3. 5 to shoot a weapon (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to shoot a gun or other weapon.

    to discharge a firearm, missile, or other projectile weapon.

    Example

    The hunter fired his rifle at the target in the distance.

    Example

    The naval vessel fired a warning shot across the bow of the unidentified ship to signal it to stop.
  4. 6 to heat ceramics (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    to heat clay or bricks in a very hot oven to make them hard.

    to subject ceramics or glass to high heat in a kiln to achieve a permanent state of hardness or glaze.

    Example

    The artist needs to fire the clay pots in the kiln overnight.

    Example

    If the porcelain is not fired at the correct temperature, the glaze will fail to bond properly with the surface.
  5. 7 excellent (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    very good, impressive, or cool.

    of exceptional quality; highly impressive or aesthetically pleasing.

    Example

    That new song is fire; I have been listening to it all day.

    Example

    The production on his latest album is absolutely fire, blending vintage synths with modern trap beats seamlessly.
Etymology 1

From Middle English fyr, from Old English fȳr (“fire”), from Proto-West Germanic fuir, from fuïr, a regularised form of Proto-Germanic fōr (“fire”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wr̥. Cognates See also Scots feier, fyre (“fire”), Yola vier, vire (“fire”), Saterland Frisian Fjuur, Fjúur (“fire”), West Frisian fjoer (“fire”), Alemannic German Füür (“fire”), Bavarian Feia (“fire”), Central Franconian Fauer, Feier, Füür (“fire”), Cimbrian bôar, vaür, vôar (“fire”), Dutch vier, vuur (“fire”), German Feuer (“fire”), German Low German Füer, Füür (“fire”), Luxembourgish Feier (“fire”), Mòcheno vaier (“fire”), Vilamovian faojer (“fire”), West Flemish vier (“fire”), Yiddish פֿײַער (fayer, “fire”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish fyr (“fire”), Icelandic funi (“fire”), Gothic 𐍆𐍉𐌽 (fōn, “fire”). Also, compare Armenian հուր (hur, “fire”), Greek πυρ (pyr, “fire”), Latin pūrgō (“to clean, cleanse, clear, purge, purify”), Umbrian 𐌐𐌉𐌓 (pir, “fire”), Bulgarian фир (fir, “ooze, pickle, soak”), Polish perz (“smoke”), Hittite 𒉺𒄴𒄯 (paḫḫur, “fire”), Luwian 𒉺𒀀𒄷𒌋𒌨 (pāhūr, “fire”), Tocharian A/B por/puwar (“fire”). This was an inanimate noun whose animate counterpart was Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥gʷnis (see ignite). Cognate to pyre.

Etymology 2

From Middle English firen, fyren, furen, from Old English fȳrian (“to make a fire”), from the noun (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian fioria (“to light a fire”), Saterland Frisian fjuurje (“to fire”), Middle Dutch vûren, vueren, vieren (“to set fire”), Dutch vuren (“to fire, shoot”), Old High German fiuren (“to ignite, set on fire”), German feuern (“to fire”).

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