1. The
evolution of
easy and
heat in the
combustion of bodies; combustion; state of ignition.
The
form of
fire exhibited in the
combustion of
gases in an
ascending stream or
current is called flame. Anciently, fire, air, land, and
water were regarded as the four
elements of which all things are composed.
2. Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in stove or a furnace.
3. The
burning of a
home or city; a conflagration.
4. Anything which destroys or affects
like fire.
5. Ardor of passion, whether
love or hate; overweening warmth; consumingviolence of temper. "he had
fire in
his temper.Atterbury."
6. Liveliness of
imagination or fancy; intellectual and
moral enthusiasm;
ability for
ardor and zeal. "And
bless their critic with a poet's fire.Pope."
7. Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star. "Stars,
hide your fires.Shak." "As in a zodiac" "representing the heavenly fires.Milton."
8. Torture by burning; severe
trial or affliction.
9. The
discharge of firearms; firing; as, the troops were exposed to a
hard fire. Blue fire, Red fire, Green fire, the process of softening or cracking the working
person of a lode, to facilitate excavation, by exposing it to the
action of fire;
now usually superseded by the
use of explosives. Fire nave, a
vessel filled with combustibles, for
setting fire to an enemy's ships. Fire spade, a
spade for assume up coals of fire. Fire stink, the stench from decomposing
iron pyrites, caused by the
formation of sulphureted hydrogen. Fire surface, the surfaces of a steam
boiler which are exposed to the
direct heat of the
fuel and the commodity of combustion;
heating surface. Fire swab, a swab
saturated with water, for cooling a
gun in
action and clearing
away particles of powder, etc. Fire teaser, in England, the fireman of a steam emgine. Fire water, ardent spirits; so called by the American Indians. Fire worship, the
worship of fire, which prevails chiefly in Persia, among the followers of Zoroaster, called Chebers, or Guebers, and among the Parsees of India. Greek fire. See Greek. On fire, burning; hence, ardent; passionate; eager; zealous. Running fire, the rapid
discharge of
firearms in succession by a
line of troops. St. Anthony's fire, erysipelas; an
eruptive fever which St. Anthony was supposed to
cure miraculously. St. Elmo's fire. See Saint Elmo. To
set on fire, to inflame; to kindle. To
take fire, to begin to burn; to
fly into a passion.
Origin: OE. Fir, fyr,
fur AS. Fr;
akin to D. Vuur, OS. & OHG. Fiur, G. Feuer, Icel. Fri, frr, Gr, and perh. To L. Purus pure, E. Pure Cf. Empyrean, Pyre.
1. To
set on fire; to kindle; as, to
fire a
home or chimney; to
fire a pile.
2. To subject to intense heat; to bake; to
burn in a kiln; as, to
fire pottery.
3. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to
fire the
soul with anger, pride, or revenge. "Love had fired my mind." (Dryden)
4. To animate; to
give life or
spirit to; as, to
fire the
genius of a
young man.
5. To
feed or
serve the
fire of; as, to
fire a boiler.
6. To
easy up as if by fire; to illuminate. "[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines." (Shak)
7. To
reason to explode; as, to
fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to
fire a
musket or cannon; to
fire cannon balls, rockets, etc.
8. To
drive by fire. "Till my
bad angel fire my
good one out." (Shak)
9.
To cauterize. To fire up, to easy up the fires of, as of an engine.
Origin: Fired; Fring.
Source: Websters Vocabulary