fire
602
5.9
- noun
- /faɪər/
- Open fire.
- open fire
- a cease-fire
- gun fire
Examples
-
- Hold your fire!
-
We are taking heavy fire from two two-man RPG teams.
-
I was laying down fire when I initially got shot.
-
Concentrate fire on the weak ones.
-
Turn into the ambush, turn toward the enemy, fire and attack.
-
Your comrade should be able to offer covering fire, even if he can no longer move.
Fiction book (1990) -
Please hold your fire.
-
The IDF outnumbered Hamas 3:1 and enjoyed close fire and intelligence support.
Academic text (2015) -
Nor would a frontal assault, without backup fire from our mortar squad, be anything but suicide.
Fiction book (1990) -
The soldiers were ordered to hold their position and return fire at the enemy forces.
Synonyms
582
2.3
Firing a bullet or explosive from a weapon
238
2.3
Firing a gun for practice or sport
155
2.5
The sound or act of shooting guns
138
3.0
The act of shooting a gun
36
7.0
A long, heavy attack with bombs or large guns on a place
26
4.5
An event when a rocket moves into the sky using its engines
14
8.6
A sudden group of gun or cannon shots fired together
11
7.9
Soldiers fire explosive shells in a high arc at a target from the ground
11
6.9
A heavy attack by military guns and cannons on enemy positions
4
4.9
Loud shots from large guns used in an attack
4
7.0
An attack in which an enemy shoots at people
2
7.1
Fire from several weapons aimed together at one target
2
7.7
Shooting at a target you can see with weapons like a tank or rifle
2
9.6
Artillery or aircraft attack a specific target after a unit asks for it
2
7.8
Continuous gunfire aimed at an enemy to stop them firing or moving so friendly troops can advance
2
5.9
Gunfire from the ground aimed at enemy planes to stop an air attack
1
9.3
A long heavy stream of shots from large guns across a wide area to hit many places
1
8.8
Heavy firing of large guns causes explosions at a place
1
9.9
Gunfire that goes along the length of a line of soldiers, causing heavy damage
1
9.5
Artillery or mortar guns fire in one direction with changing elevation to hit different distances across a target area
1
8.8
Many weapons fire together at one target
1
9.3
Shots from guns or artillery that disturb, tire, and stop enemy soldiers from moving
1
9.9
A long, very loud attack by many heavy guns firing rapidly
1
8.0
Gunfire aimed to destroy enemy weapons or positions
Shots from guns aimed at different heights to hit targets at various distances
Shots from many guns spread over an area to hit targets
A planned heavy attack with artillery to weaken enemy forces before an assault
A set of shots from guns or artillery aimed at enemy positions before an attack
Shots from guns that soldiers adjust after seeing where they land
Shots from guns or cannons fired without seeing where they hit
Shooting that destroys things like buildings or vehicles in war
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
10
8.1
Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them
- Informal
6
5.9
To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that makes people angrier
- Informal
4
7.3
If there are signs of a problem, it is probably true
- Informal
2
7.3
Escaping a bad situation and ending in a much worse one
- Informal
1
8.9
Strong energy and passion that continue even when someone gets older
1
8.9
Save someone from a difficult situation at the last moment
- Archaic
1
9.9
To cause great excitement or a big effect, often said to mean something is not impressive
To pay attention to something unimportant instead of the main task
Compounds
145
1.1
A group that sends people to put out fires and help in emergencies in the local area
55
2.7
A staircase or metal ladder on the outside of a building used to get out during a fire
19
2.4
A practice where people leave a building to be safe during a fire or other emergency
- Formal
18
3.8
A person who makes sure buildings are safe from fire, investigates fires, and enforces fire safety rules
- Specialized
12
7.7
Intense gunfire aimed near an enemy to keep them from shooting back while friendly troops move
- Formal
7
3.4
A set of rules made by authorities about buildings to prevent fires and keep people safe
- Informal
4
7.4
A very difficult test that shows if someone can do a job under pressure
- Specialized
2
7.4
A bright red flame that comes from burning chemicals and people use in fireworks and flares
- US
2
7.3
A large fast fire that burns across dry grassland and spreads quickly in strong wind
- Specialized
2
7.1
A slow burn in the layer of dead leaves and wood under the soil, often without visible flames
- Specialized
2
7.8
Continuous gunfire aimed at an enemy to stop them firing or moving so friendly troops can advance
- Specialized
2
5.9
Gunfire from the ground aimed at enemy planes to stop an air attack
- Specialized
1
8.2
Shooting at a target you cannot see using calculations or people who watch
- Specialized
1
9.9
A blue glow that appears on pointed objects like ship masts or airplane wings during thunderstorms
- Canadian
1
2.3
A building where firefighters keep equipment, work, and hold community events
- Specialized
1
6.1
A system that finds and aims weapons at military targets on ships or tanks
- Specialized
1
9.3
A long heavy stream of shots from large guns across a wide area to hit many places
- Specialized
1
6.8
A system that uses radio waves to aim and fire weapons at military targets
- Specialized
1
7.0
Gunfire by other soldiers or tanks that protects attacking soldiers from the enemy
How Intense
Surface Forms
Etymology
Fire comes from the old word fyr meaning 'flame', and people used the image of a sudden burst of heat or light to talk about weapons being used. That's why to 'open fire' or to 'fire' at someone means to shoot — you 'send out' a sudden, powerful burst like a flame.