# wildfire

/ˈwaɪɫdˌfaɪɝ/ (US) · /wˈaɪldfaɪə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wildfire
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. forest fire

noun · CEFR B2

a large fire that spreads very quickly through a forest, field, or dry grass.

For teachers: an uncontrolled fire occurring in vegetation or wildland areas, often spreading rapidly due to wind and dry conditions.

- The dry summer caused a massive wildfire that destroyed thousands of trees.
- Emergency services struggled to contain the wildfire as shifting winds pushed the flames toward the residential outskirts of the valley.

Usage: Often used as a countable noun when referring to specific events, or uncountable when discussing the phenomenon.

### 2. spreading quickly

noun · CEFR B2

used to describe something, like news or a trend, that moves very fast from person to person.

For teachers: a figurative use describing the rapid and uncontrollable propagation of information, rumours, or trends.

- The news of the celebrity's arrival spread like wildfire through the small town.
- Once the video was posted online, it spread like wildfire across social media platforms, reaching millions of viewers within hours.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the simile 'spread like wildfire'.

### 3. Greek fire

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an ancient type of weapon that could burn even on water.

For teachers: a historical incendiary weapon used in naval warfare, particularly by the Byzantine Empire.

- Ancient sailors feared the wildfire that could burn their wooden ships to the waterline.
- The secret composition of wildfire allowed the Byzantine navy to dominate the seas for centuries against superior numbers.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; modern learners will almost always encounter 'wildfire' in the context of natural disasters or the 'spread like wildfire' idiom.

## Examples

- The wildfire spread quickly through the dry forest.
- Firefighters worked through the night to create a perimeter and stop the wildfire from reaching the nearby town.
- As climate patterns shift toward prolonged droughts, the frequency and intensity of wildfires have increased, posing a significant threat to biodiversity and residential safety in the wildland-urban interface.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.