wildfire
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a large fire that spreads very quickly through a forest, field, or dry grass.
an uncontrolled fire occurring in vegetation or wildland areas, often spreading rapidly due to wind and dry conditions.
Simple“The dry summer caused a massive wildfire that destroyed thousands of trees.”
In context“Emergency services struggled to contain the wildfire as shifting winds pushed the flames toward the residential outskirts of the valley.”
UsageOften used as a countable noun when referring to specific events, or uncountable when discussing the phenomenon.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
used to describe something, like news or a trend, that moves very fast from person to person.
a figurative use describing the rapid and uncontrollable propagation of information, rumours, or trends.
Simple“The news of the celebrity's arrival spread like wildfire through the small town.”
In context“Once the video was posted online, it spread like wildfire across social media platforms, reaching millions of viewers within hours.”
UsageAlmost exclusively used in the simile 'spread like wildfire'.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
an ancient type of weapon that could burn even on water.
a historical incendiary weapon used in naval warfare, particularly by the Byzantine Empire.
Simple“Ancient sailors feared the wildfire that could burn their wooden ships to the waterline.”
In context“The secret composition of wildfire allowed the Byzantine navy to dominate the seas for centuries against superior numbers.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is archaic; modern learners will almost always encounter 'wildfire' in the context of natural disasters or the 'spread like wildfire' idiom.
Synonymsgreek fire
Usage wildfire risk · wildfire smoke · wildfires across the country
“A police helicopter carries water to be dumped on wildfire in the Hürtgen forest in western Germany.”
“For decades, the only site where the moth was found in England was at Strensall Common, in Yorkshire, but the population there has been in decline due to climate change and a wildfire.”
Inherited from Middle English wilde fyr, wilde fire, wylde fyre, from Old English wilde fȳr. By surface analysis, wild + fire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.