1. The process of combustion of flammable materials; produces heat, light, and (often) smoke
   "fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries";
   - flame, flaming
    
2. The event of something burning (often destructive)
   "they lost everything in the fire"
    
3. The act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
   "hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes"; "they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire";
   - firing
    
4. Fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking
   "put the kettle on the fire"; "barbecue over an open fire"
    
5. A fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
   "they sat by the fire and talked"
    
6. Feelings of great warmth and intensity
   "His speech was delivered with fire and passion";
   - ardor [US], ardour [Brit, Cdn], fervor [US], fervour [Brit, Cdn], fervency, fervidness
    
7. A severe trial
   "he went through fire and damnation"
    
8. Intense adverse criticism
   "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party";
   - attack, flak [informal], flack, blast [informal], stick [Brit, informal]
    
9. A shell, bullet, or other projectile fired from a gun or ranged weapon
   "The artillery battery unleashed a barrage of fires on the enemy fortifications"
    
10. [archaic] Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles), associated with the humour bile
    "In ancient Greek philosophy, fire was considered a primary element of nature"

1. Start firing a weapon
   "The soldiers opened fire on the approaching enemy";
   - open fire
    
2. Cause to go off
   "fire a bullet"; "fire a gun";
   - discharge
    
3. Terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
   "The boss fired his secretary today";
   - displace, give notice, can [N. Amer, informal], dismiss, give the axe [informal], send away, sack, force out, give the sack [informal], terminate
    
4. (cooking) bake in a kiln so as to harden
   "fire pottery"
    
5. Start or maintain a fire in
   "fire the furnace";
   - light, ignite
    
6. Become ignited
   "The furnace wouldn't fire";
   - flame up
    
7. Go off or discharge
   "The gun fired";
   - discharge, go off
    
8. Destroy by fire
   "The arsonist fired the abandoned warehouse";
   - burn, burn down
    
9. Provide as a source of energy or heat
   "Oil fires the furnace";
   - fuel
    
10. (physiology) generate an electrical impulse
    "the neurons fired fast"
     
11. Drive out or away by or as if by fire
    "The soldiers were fired"; "Surrender fires the cold scepticism"

Derived forms: fires, firing, fired

Type of: act, alter, attack, bake, begin, blast, burning, cause, change, chase away, combustion, commence, criticism, destroy, dispel, drive away, drive off, drive out, element, fireplace, fuel, furnish, generate, get, happening, have, hearth, induce, lead off, make, move, natural event, occurrence, occurrent, offer, onrush, onset, onslaught, open fireplace, passion, passionateness, provide, remove, render, ruin, run off, shoot, start, stimulate, supply, trial, tribulation, turn back, unfavorable judgment [US], unfavourable judgment [Brit, Cdn], vary

Encyclopedia: Fire, Fusion & Steel