fire
fire — noun
1. the condition of burning, in which flames, heat, and light are produced — the ba
the condition of burning, in which flames, heat, and light are produced — the basic physical process of something being alight.
The old shed was destroyed by fire last night.
Smoke from the fire could be seen from three kilometres away.
The fire spread quickly through the dry forest.
Trang put more wood on the fire to keep it burning.
2. an event in which something unwanted burns and is damaged or destroyed, such as
an event in which something unwanted burns and is damaged or destroyed, such as a house, building, or area of forest.
A fire broke out in the kitchen of the restaurant.
collocation: a fire breaks out
Firefighters arrived quickly and put the fire out within an hour.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Hyun's family lost their home in a house fire last winter.
Three people were rescued from the burning building by the fire brigade.
用法筆記
Use this sense (countable) when referring to a specific fire event. Use sense 1 (uncountable) when referring to the general substance or process of burning.
常見錯誤
3. a small, controlled pile of burning wood, coal, or other fuel, used outdoors or
a small, controlled pile of burning wood, coal, or other fuel, used outdoors or in a fireplace for warmth or cooking.
The campers sat around the campfire telling stories all night.
compound: campfire
Élise lit a fire in the fireplace to warm the living room.
pattern: light a fire
The children sat around the fire and toasted marshmallows on long sticks.
We built a small fire on the beach to cook fish.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (DESTRUCTIVE FIRE): this sense describes a safe, intentional fire for warmth or cooking, not an unwanted, damaging one.
4. a room heater that runs on gas or electricity and keeps indoor spaces warm.
a room heater that runs on gas or electricity and keeps indoor spaces warm.
Omar turned on the gas fire in the sitting room.
British usage: gas fire
The electric fire in the bedroom was making a strange noise.
We need to service the fire before winter comes.
Vivek switched the fire off before leaving the house.
用法筆記
This sense is most common in British English. In American English, 'heater' or 'space heater' is more typical. Often used with 'gas' or 'electric' as a compound: 'gas fire', 'electric fire'.
5. bullets, shells, or missiles released from guns, rifles, and similar weapons, es
bullets, shells, or missiles released from guns, rifles, and similar weapons, especially during military combat.
The soldiers came under heavy fire from the hills.
collocation: under fire
Enemy fire forced the team to pull back.
The sound of distant fire could be heard all night.
Paloma trained for weeks in how to return fire safely.
用法筆記
Uncountable. Frequently appears in military and security contexts. 'Under fire' also has a figurative meaning — see the idiom-like phrase 'come under fire' (meaning to be criticised).
6. the moment when someone begins shooting a weapon at a target, especially in a mi
the moment when someone begins shooting a weapon at a target, especially in a military or combat situation.
The troops opened fire on the advancing vehicles.
pattern: open fire on [target]
Police officers are trained not to open fire unless necessary.
Darius ordered his men to hold their fire until the enemy was within range.
Aarav ordered his soldiers to hold their fire until the signal.
文法句型
open fire on/at [someone/something]
用法筆記
Most often encountered in the fixed phrase 'open fire' (begin shooting) and 'hold your fire' (wait before shooting). The noun itself rarely stands alone in this sense without the verb 'open' or 'hold'.
常見錯誤
7. a very strong feeling of anger, enthusiasm, passion, or energy that makes someon
a very strong feeling of anger, enthusiasm, passion, or energy that makes someone act with intensity.
Her speech was full of fire and moved the audience to tears.
collocation: full of fire
The fire in his voice showed how strongly he felt about justice.
The team showed tremendous fire and determination in every game.
The young painter's eyes burned with creative fire.
Ezra spoke with such fire that even the doubters began to believe.
- apathy
lack of interest or emotion, opposite of the energy in this sense
用法筆記
Uncountable or singular only. Often used in the fixed phrase 'fire in [one's] belly', meaning strong desire to succeed. This is a figurative extension — the speaker is comparing strong feeling to a burning flame.
8. harsh words or strong written comments that attack someone or something, express
harsh words or strong written comments that attack someone or something, expressing serious disapproval.
The new policy came under heavy fire from opposition MPs.
collocation: come under fire (figurative)
The CEO faced a fire of angry questions from shareholders.
His article drew fire from readers across the country.
Yasmin's proposal was met with a fire of complaints.
- praise
positive feedback; the opposite of harsh criticism
用法筆記
Uncountable. Always figurative — the speaker compares criticism to being shot at. Common collocations: 'come under fire', 'draw fire', 'a fire of [questions/criticisms]'. Distinguish from sense 7 (PASSION), which is about strong positive or neutral feeling, not attack.
常見錯誤
fire — verb
1. to cause a gun, bow, or other weapon to send out bullets, arrows, or similar pro
to cause a gun, bow, or other weapon to send out bullets, arrows, or similar projectiles.
The soldier fired his rifle at the target.
David fired three shots into the air as a warning.
collocation: fire shots
Hyun is learning how to fire a bow and arrow safely.
The police ordered the man not to fire.
Trang fired at the target and hit the centre.
文法句型
fire + weapon
fire at + target
用法筆記
Can be used transitively (fire a gun / fire an arrow) or intransitively (Don't fire!). The weapon is the object, not the person being shot. To say someone was shot, use 'shoot', not 'fire'.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He fired me.' (ambiguous — this means he dismissed me from my job, not that he shot at me). Make context clear.
2. to direct a quick series of questions, criticisms, or remarks at someone, often
to direct a quick series of questions, criticisms, or remarks at someone, often in an intense or aggressive way.
The journalists fired questions at the minister as she left the building.
pattern: fire questions at [someone]
Eli fired off an angry email to his manager.
phrasal variant: fire off
During the debate, each candidate fired criticisms at the other.
The teacher fired one maths problem after another at the class.
- pepper with questions
similar metaphor but suggests many questions from multiple directions
- bombard
an even stronger word; 'bombard someone with questions'
文法句型
fire + questions/criticisms + at + person
用法筆記
Figurative extension of sense 1 (DISCHARGE WEAPON). The rapid questions/criticisms are compared to bullets. Common collocation: 'fire off' + (letter/email/message), meaning to send it quickly, often in anger.
3. to make someone leave their job, often because they performed poorly or the empl
to make someone leave their job, often because they performed poorly or the employer needs to spend less money.
The company fired ten employees after the merger.
Paloma was fired from her job for arriving late too often.
passive: be fired from [job]
The boss threatened to fire anyone who used the phone for personal calls.
Vivek got fired after only two weeks at the company.
文法句型
fire + person + from + job
用法筆記
Informal. The formal equivalent is 'dismiss' or 'terminate (someone's) employment'. Commonly used in the passive: 'get fired' is very frequent. Not used in extremely formal writing (e.g. legal documents). 'You're fired!' became famous from the TV show The Apprentice.
常見錯誤
4. to create a strong feeling such as excitement, enthusiasm, passion, or determina
to create a strong feeling such as excitement, enthusiasm, passion, or determination in someone — like lighting a fire in their mind or heart.
The coach's speech fired the team with determination to win.
pattern: fire [someone] with [emotion]
The documentary fired her imagination and made her want to travel.
collocation: fire the imagination
Omar's stories about space exploration fired the children's curiosity.
Trang was fired by a deep desire to help her community.
- dampen
to reduce enthusiasm or excitement
文法句型
fire + someone + with + emotion
fire + someone + to do something
用法筆記
Literary and formal feeling. Common collocation 'fire someone's imagination' (make someone excitedly interested). Passive form 'be fired by [an emotion]' is also frequent. Distinguish from sense 7 of the noun (PASSION) — this is the verb form of the same metaphorical idea.
5. to place clay objects in a very hot oven (kiln) so they become permanently hard
to place clay objects in a very hot oven (kiln) so they become permanently hard and can be used as pots, bowls, or bricks.
The potter fired the bowls in a kiln at over a thousand degrees.
Yasmin learned how to fire clay pots during her ceramics class.
collocation: fire clay
The tiles must be fired twice to achieve the right finish.
If you do not fire the clay long enough, it will crack.
文法句型
fire + clay object
用法筆記
Technical term in pottery and ceramics. Not used for cooking food — that is 'bake' or 'cook'. The noun 'firing' (as in 'the first firing of the kiln') is also common in this context.
常見錯誤
6. to make something start burning, either on purpose or by accident, setting it al
to make something start burning, either on purpose or by accident, setting it alight.
Someone fired the barn and it burned to the ground.
collocation: fire a building
The protestors fired several cars during the street clashes.
Sparks from the train wheels fired the dry grass beside the track.
Emily carefully fired the pile of leaves with a match.
- set fire to
the much more common phrase for this meaning
- set alight
British English; similar meaning
- ignite
formal or technical; 'ignite a fuel'
- extinguish
to put out a fire
- put out
everyday phrasal verb for stopping a fire
文法句型
fire + object
用法筆記
Less common than 'set fire to' or 'set on fire' in everyday speech. More frequent in formal writing, news reports, or historical contexts. The noun phrase 'set fire to' is much more common for the same meaning.